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AUTO ROADS 

■ -i FROM I _I 

CHICAGO TO POINTS 
IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS 
AND ST. LOUIS 


Copyright 1910 

S. P. IRWIN 

BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS 


RETURN ROUTES DESCRIBED 















































©GI.A268069 






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i* 1 • ♦ * 








































FOREWORD. 


In describing the routes given herein I have tried 
to select landmarks of a permanent nature which are 
not subject to rapid change. A red barn may not be 
red another year and trees may be cut down. Rail¬ 
roads, school houses, churches and cemeteries are likely 
to endure, for some years at least, and I have selected 
them as landmarks as much as possible. The large map 
gives the connection of the routes described and the 
small diagrams the general plan of the section of roads 
described. 

All routes described (except the Lake Geneva route, 
and Archer Avenue route to Joliet,) enter and leave 
Chicago on the west side through the medium of Jack- 
son Boulevard, Garfield Park and Washington Bou¬ 
levard. An index for routes between principal cities is 
provided. The routes described are ordinarily the best 
roads but I am not responsible for the weather nor for 
the work of the various highway commissioners in re¬ 
pairing bridges and roads. North of Streator the roads 
described are nearly all gravel. South of Streator there 
is very little gravel, most of the roads being black dirt. 
In the routes I have selected there are only a few hills 
which are more than average ones. The dirt roads of 
Central Illinois which you must have south of Streator 


2 


and Morris are good or bad according to weather condi¬ 
tions and travel. The road you denounce as “fierce” 
when you go over it may be excellent when you return 
a few days later. “It’s the nature of the beast” and it 
can’t be helped. The streets of Riverside are all winding 
drives and very confusing to the stranger. Appended 
is a small diagram showing two routes between River¬ 
side and Washington Boulevard and between Riverside 
and Lyons, which may prove useful. Strangers in Chi¬ 
cago will do well to time their arrival and departure 
either in the early morning hours before traffic begins 
or after it has ceased in the evening. In the down 
town district during business hours you must govern 
your movements by the crossing policeman’s signal. 
Street cars crossing boulevards stop before crossing but 
watch out if they are standing still when you come along. 


Riverside to Washington Boulevard and Lyons Bridge. 





























In driving on boulevards keep to right; keep near 
curb if you wish to go slow. In turning if you are on 
right side of street and wish to turn right, slow down and 
turn close to curb; if you wish to turn left, go to mid¬ 
dle of street before turning, watching out for “the man 
behind.” Do not stop with car facing wrong way. If 
driving on right side of street and wish to stop on left 
side, go to next street and turn to left side and come 
back. Remember an early start out of Chicago means 
many miles gained on your homeward journey by noon. 


4 



5 


Morris 


























CHICAGO TO JOLIET OR PLAINFIELD 
(WEST SIDE ROUTE). 

I have scouted around a good deal lately trying to find 
a road between Chicago and Joliet that I could recom¬ 
mend as good all the way at all times. As between the 
Archer Avenue route and the West Side route I think, 
all things considered, including the rough condition of 
part of Archer Avenue and the road south of Willow 
Springs, that the West side route is preferable though 
a little further. Both routes are poor part of the way in 
wet weather. The West Side route is as follows: Start¬ 
ing from Michigan avenue and Jackson boulevard go 
west on Jackson 2.2 miles to Ashland avenue (fire-ball) 
turn right, go north (caution in crossing Ogden avenue 
and Madison street car line) turn left on Washington 
boulevard 1 block beyond Madison street (Union Park 
on right) and go west on Washington to Garfield Park. 
Keep to left on entering park then swing toward right 
passing fountain and pavillion on right to northwest 
exit Garfield Park (5.4 miles from start) follow Wash¬ 
ington boulevard 2.8 miles to Austin avenue. (Formerly 
almost all travel to Riverside went south on Austin 
avenue 2 miles to 22nd street then west on 22nd street 
car tracks about 1 mile to angling road on left, and left 
on angling road to Cottage Store at Riverside. At pres¬ 
ent writing Austin avenue and 22nd street are in bad 
condition and until they are improved go as follows). 
Keep west on Washington boulevard .6 miles to 64th 
avenue, turn right 1 block to Randolph boulevard, turn 
left and follow Randolph west 1.2 miles to Maple avenue 
(Oak Park) passing garage on left just before reaching 
Maple avenue. Turn left and follow Maple avenue 
south .5 mile to Jackson boulevard, turn right and fol- 


6 


low Jackson .5 mile to Desplaines avenue, turn left and 
go south on Desplaines crossing A. E. & J. electric line 
and passing Forest Park (amusement park) on your 
right. Keep straight^ ahead south following car line to 
where it turns left then straight ahead south passing 
Jewish cemeteries, and straight ahead on gravel road 
south passing Bergman’s Grove on right to car 
line and along car line to where it turns off to right 
in Riverside. Keep to left passing High School building 
on left to Cottage Store Riverside (14.5 miles). Cross 
railroad east of depot, turn right but keep to left at the 
next 2 turns, passing stone church on right, then to 
right to bridge (high square tower on right) cross 
bridge and car line (Lyons) and keep straight ahead 
south on Joliet avenue (rough) turning southwest with 
the road to electric road (saloon on right) cross elec¬ 
tric line (road paralleling electric line just as you cross 
leads to left to Summit and the Archer avenue route, 
about 1J 4 miles). After crossing electric line keep 
straight ahead southwest following power wire poles, 
cross railroad, passing stone crusher on left. Continue 
ahead on this angling macadam road passing school, old 
church on right and church with cemetery behind it on 
left 1.2 miles. After passing this last church the macadam 
road ends. Continue on fair gravel road following tele¬ 
phone line 1J 4 miles to Gower and through Gower 2.1 
miles to Cass (Madden’s country home on right, school 
and church on left and Fairview cemetery on right). 
Continue along telephone line 1 mile to Rambler sign on 
fence reading “Lemont 2 miles.” (By turning left here 
you can cross to the Archer avenue route.) Continue 
along telephone line on angling gravel road (good dirt 
road in dry seasons) 3 miles to forks in road 29.7 miles 
from start. The middle road, with telephone line, goes 


straight ahead n miles, (mostly poor road) to Plain- 
field. Road to right leads to Naperville. Turn left for 
Joliet. The first 2*4 miles is over gravel road which is 
pretty rough but improves. Pass 2 roads on left and 
one on right, pass Sprague school on right. Keep to 
left at fork just after passing school and keep straight 
ahead on this road which is good gravel until you reach 
Joliet city limits. 1 mile after turning south near 
Sprague school you pass a cross road leading to left 
across the river and canals to Romeoville. Stone fence 
on right with chiseled information tablet at north end 
of fence giving distances to various towns and some 
Scripture references. Three miles further on pass a good 
road on left leading across to Lockport, 1 mile. (If you 
like you may cross to Lockport and follow interurban 
past State penitentiary to Joliet.) Continuing straight 
ahead south you pass another Lockport road on your 
left and 1.4 miles further cross a railroad. Continue 
straight ahead. Road becomes rough as you near city 
limits. Steel mills in valley below. Entering Joliet, 
turn left at car line on Ruby street and follow car line 
down hill and across bridge to Chicago street, turn to 
right with car line and continue south on Chicago street 
to court house. 

JOLIET TO CHICAGO—WEST SIDE ROUTE 

43.6 miles 

From court house in Joliet go north on Chicago street 
to end of street, turn left with car line, cross bridge and 
climb hill to north Broadway, turn right and keep 
straight ahead. Road is pretty rough at the start but 
improves. Continue straight ahead on this road, steel 
mills in valley below and penitentiary across the river, 


8 


cross railroad, pass road on right and i mile further pass 
another road on right leading east i mile to Lockport. 
(This point can also be reached via Archer Ave. route as 
there described.) 

From the junction of the Lockport road with the 
west side route continue north passing school on 
right 2 miles beyond and the Alexander home on 
left with stone information tablet in north end of fence, 
l mile further on. At forks i mile further on keep 
to right, pass Sprague school on left. From here to the 
junction of the Plainfield road (3^/2 miles) the gravel 
road is pretty rough, but keep straight ahead on angling 
road passing 1 road on left and 2 on right to junction 
of Plainfield road (sign boards) turn right and follow 
telephone line which follows this angling road nearly 
all the way to Lyons. Road from this point to Cass 
(4 miles) is fair gravel and dirt. At Cass you pass Fair- 
view cemetery and Madden’s country home on left and 
church and school on right. Continue on angling road, 
which winds a little to left to and through Gower, 2 
miles further on. About ip2 miles after passing Gower 
you come to a crushed stone road which you follow 
straight ahead passing church and cemetery on right, 
old church and school on left, stone crusher on right, 
crossing railroad at that point and straight ahead along 
power wire line to electric road, cross electric road 
(saloon on corner) straight ahead until road turns north 
into Joliet avenue, Lyons. Straight ahead to car track 
and bridge, cross car track and bridge, high square tower 
on left, keep middle road entering park and continue 
to Riverside. Cross railroad east of depot, Cottage Store 
on right. (On account of the bad condition of 22nd 
street car tracks and Austin avenue, it is better to pro¬ 
ceed to Washington boulevard as follows.) Leaving 


9 


Cottage Store on right angle northwest passing red 
brick high school on your right. Continue to car line 
and follow this road north with car line until it turns off, 
keep straight ahead north passing Bergman’s Grove on 
left; straight ahead to macadam street, pass Jewish 
cemeteries', straight ahead to Forest Park (amusement 
park), cross A. E. & C. electric line, continue one block 
to Jackson boulevard, turn right and go east J/2 mile 
to end (Maple avenue) turn left and go north on Maple 
avenue cross Madison street (Oak Park), go 2 blocks, 
turn right on Randolph boulevard, go east about 1 
mile to end of Randolph (64th avenue) turn right 1 
block to Washington boulevard, turn left and follow 
Washington boulevard 3.4 miles to Garfield Park, con¬ 
tinue through park passing pavillion and fountain on left 
and bearing left to exit then east on Washington boule¬ 
vard to Union Park (Ashland avenue) turn right on 
Ashland (fire-ball) go south (caution on crossing Madi¬ 
son stueet and Ogden avenue car line) to Jackson boule¬ 
vard (fire-ball) turn left and follow Jackson boulevard 
east 2.2 miles to Michigan avenue. 

CHICAGO TO JOLIET via ARCHER AVENUE. 

Archer avenue begins at State and Nineteenth streets 
and runs southwest to Archer road which continues at 
a little less angle to Summit. The Archer avenue car 
line follows Archer avenue to 48th avenue (Archer 
limits) and the C. & J. electric railway follows Archer 
road to Summit. To reach Archer avenue go south on 
Michigan avenue, to Eighteenth street turn right 2 
blocks to State, turn left 1 block to Archer avenue an¬ 
gling to right. Or, go south on Michigan avenue to 33rd 
street, turn right, follow 33rd west to end (Halsted 


10 


street) turn right 2 blocks to 31st street, turn left and 
follow 31st street west to end where it joins Archer ave¬ 
nue (31st street jogs north-west at gas works 1 block 
before it reaches Archer avenue). Turn left on Archer 
avenue. Or, follow Jackson boulevard west from Michi¬ 
gan avenue to S. California avenue which is 2 miles 
west of the Canal street bridge. Turn left on S. Cali¬ 
fornia avenue go south on S. California avenue 
and S. California boulevard which runs into W. 
31st boulevard where it turns east. Follow W. 31st 
boulevard to Western boulevard (about 3 blocks) 
turn right, cross bridge and follow Western boulevard 
south to Archer avenue. (McKinley Park across to 
south). Follow Archer avenue which has a fairly good 
asphalt pavement (but much traffic) from State street 
to about 34 mile beyond Western boulevard. From 
that point to 48th avenue (Archer limits) there is not 
much but the car tracks and the going is pretty rough. 
From 48th avenue you have a good gravel road along 
C. & J. electric line to Summit, turn left with car line 
at Summit. (The road to right along the other car 
line will lead you to the west side route about 134 
miles from Summit, where it crosses the car line 
at the saloon south of Lyons. Fairly good road 
across.) From Summit you have a good gravel road 
along the C. & J. electric line until after you pass Wil¬ 
low Springs when it gets rougher. Just before reaching 
Sag Bridge station you will have to leave the electric 
line and go south through Sag Bridge about 1 mile 
then to right to the electric line again which you fol¬ 
low through Lemont and to point where it again leaves 
the electric line. At this point go east a few rods to 
first road, turn right (2 arm telephone line) climb pretty 
rough hill and keep straight ahead to large sign reading 


11 


“Village of Romeoville” etc. From this point the road 
carrying the 2 arm telephone line will take you to Lock- 
port over the bluffs but it is better to turn to right, have 
car under full control as you descend hill to electric and 
railroad tracks at bottom, cross tracks and continue 
about iy 2 miles to west side route turn left and proceed 
south 3 miles when you may either cross to Lockport 
and follow electric line to Joliet or continue on west 
side as previously described. 

JOLIET TO CHICAGO via ARCHER AVENUE 
ROUTE. 

It is best in going this way to combine with the west 
side route above described, proceeding to Lockport 
as follows: Leave court house in Joliet, go north 
on Chicago street 3 blocks to Cass street, turn right and 
go east on Cass street about 8 or 9 blocks to Collins 
street, where C. & J. electric line turns off. Turn left 
and follow car line north past penitentiary, slow up for 
grade crossing just as you go under another railroad, 
continue along electric line to Lockport following elec¬ 
tric line about 3 blocks to Walter’s wholesale and retail 
grocery, turn left, slow for railroad at foot of hill, cross 
railroads, canals and river and follow gravel road across 
bottoms, turn right up the hill to the west side road. 
This is a good road all the way from Joliet and has 
several interesting features, including the steel mills and 
electric park. Follow the west side route north 3 
miles to the Romeoville road. At this point turn 
right and go east across river, canals and railroads ij4 
miles to Village of Romeoville sign at top of hill, turn 
left, follow 2 arm telephone line, keep to right where 
new road turns to left (house with lot of hen or hog 


12 


houses on right) follow telephone line to foot of hill 
after passing small square house on right at top of hill, 
turn left a few rods to C. & J. electric line and follow 
electric line through Lemont and as far as you can 
beyond, then east about i mile and north through Sag 
Bridge to electric line which you follow the rest of 
the way to Summit. Road is pretty rough from Romeo- 
ville until you come to Willow Springs north of Sag 
bridge. (At Summit you can turn left and follow the 
Lyons car line niiles to west side route, cross car 
line and proceed through Lyons and Riverside as de¬ 
scribed in west side route.) To go in on Archer avenue 
continue along electric line from Summit to 48th ave¬ 
nue. then along Archer avenue car tracks to pavement 
and straight ahead to State street; or turn left off Ar¬ 
cher avenue at Western boulevard, (McKinley park on 
right) go north to bridge, cross bridge, turn left on W. 
31st boulevard until it runs into S. California boulevard 
then north on S. California boulevard and S. California 
avenue to Jackson boulevard, then east on Jackson 
to Michigan avenue; or continue on Archer avenue to 
31st street after you cross bridge, turn sharp to right 
on 31st which turns east at the gas works, follow 31st 
east to Halsted, turn right 2 blocks to 33rd, turn left 
and follow 33rd to Michigan avenue, then left on Michi¬ 
gan avenue for uptown. 

JOLIET TO MORRIS AND DWIGHT. 

Joliet to Morris. (Route 1. 26 l / 2 miles.) 

I consider this the best route to Morris though 2^4 
miles further than the Channahon route. From court 
house go west on Jefferson street cross bridge and keep 
straight ahead up hill. (Jefferson street becomes Ex- 


13 


change street after crossing bridge). Follow Exchange 
street west, passing St. Patrick’s cemetery on left, con¬ 
tinue west from end of Exchange street, cross railroad, 
continue west to forks near bridge, at Troy, 5 miles west 
of Joliet. Turn left, go southwest then south with road, 
pass school and church, go i mile further south, turn 
right cross river, turn to left at first road, go south 
along river i l / 2 miles to end of road, (railroad crossing 
short distance to left) turn right, go west, pass school 
continue west to railroad, cross railroad, turn left at 
first road, go south cross railroad (E. J. & E. depot 
on right) continue straight ahead to first street after 
passing water tower in Minooka, 14 miles from Joliet. 

Turn right and go west under railroad and continue 
straight ahead west 2 miles to bridge, turn left without 
crossing, follow this road which winds for a mile and 
then turns south (no forks) go south to railroad, cross 
railroad, continue south about 2 miles to end of road, 
turn right, cross stone bridge, turn left cross canal on 
white bridge, turn right and follow canal to bridge just 
out of Morris, cross canal, turn left and follow angling 
road to end, turn right and follow this street (Washing¬ 
ton street) to court house, Morris. 

JOLIET TO MORRIS—Route 2. 

This route is the same as last described to Troy. 
Here continue across bridge, and west to end of road 
(fair gravel) turn left, go south on dirt road mile, 
turn right, go west 1 mile on dirt road, turn left on 
gravel road and go south 4 miles to where road from 
Minooka*comes in from left under railroad. Route from 
here to Morris is the same as last described. 


14 


JOLIET TO MORRIS via CHANNAHON—24 
MILES. 


This is the shortest and most picturesque route but 
is rough going out of Joliet and has some short stretches 
of dirt road and is more hilly than the other routes. 
From court house in Joliet go west on Jefferson street, 
cross bridge turn left at first street and follow this street 
and road along canal 2 miles to white bridge over canal, 
turn left across canal, turn right at first road and 
straight ahead nearly 4 miles to forks at top of hill, keep 
to left, straight ahead, pass road on left, cross-road, 
road on right and road on left and straight ahead into 
Channahon (11 miles from Joliet). Go south on busi¬ 
ness street of Channahon (no need for crossing police¬ 
men) to second cross street even with bridges on right, 
turn right cross bridges and climb hill. Keep to right 
at the fork then straight ahead west 5 miles to end of 
road, passing school and crossing railroad, at end of 
road turn left (this is where route 1 comes in from 
north), go south to end of road turn right cross stone 
bridge, turn left over canal turn right follow canal to 
bridge short way out of Morris, cross canal turn left, 
follow angling road to end, turn right to court house. 

MORRIS TO DWIGHT— 22 MILES. 

Starting from court house on Washington street go 
west four blocks, turn to left, cross canal and river 
and go to second cross road about four miles south 
of Morris. (To go the west road to Dwight keep 
straight ahead until road turns to right. Go half a 
mile west then straight south to Dwight.) To go the 
east road to Dwight, which is usually the best, turn to 
left at second cross road south of Morris and go east 

15 


2 


one-half mile to school house, turn to right straight 
south through east side Mazon to end of road just north 
of Dwight, turn to right and go west one-half mile, 
turn to left across railroad, turn to right to elevator, 
turn to left and go south passing park on right to 
C. & A. track. Turn sharply to right without crossing 
track, to Livingston Hotel on your right. Both roads 
are dirt roads, after a few miles from Morris. 

MORRIS TO YORKVILLE. 

North on Liberty street, to right one block, then to 
left straight north about six miles to gravel road, turn 
to left about a mile, then to right and continue straight 
ahead on gravel pike road to Yorkville. Hilly when 
near Yorkville. 

MORRIS TO OTTAWA. 

Take Jefferson street west to forks in road. Turn 
to left and follow road along north side of canal about 
five miles. Cross canal on high bridge with steep ap¬ 
proaches, follow road south-west along Illinois river. 
Road turns due west when near Seneca and across rail¬ 
road. Go to main north and south street of Seneca, 
turn to right across canal to within one block of railroad, 
turn to left and follow angling road across railroad and 
around base of hill passing cemetery on bluff on your 
right. Continue straight ahead at the forks to Mar¬ 
seilles. Just as you enter Marseilles road jogs half a 
block south then runs due west through Marseilles 
around base of hills to another road coming in to Ot¬ 
tawa from the north. Turn to left and follow this road 
across railroad and canal, turn to right and follow canal 
to Ottawa on Superior street. Follow Superior street 


16 


west to Columbus or LaSalle. Turn to left to court 
house. Road between Morris and Seneca in bad repair. 
Sand, clay and dirt. Hilly between Seneca and Ottawa. 
Scenery very fine. 

PLAINFIELD TO MORRIS—26 MILES. 

From Plainfield bank go west 1 block, turn left f 
block to park, jog right and left around park to south¬ 
west corner, turn right 1 block (Chautauqua grounds 
ahead) turn left follow river road winding to right about 
1 mile to forks near bridge to right, turn right, cross 
river and railroad, continue west to first road, turn left, 
go south, cross railroad, go south nearly 2 miles (big 
elevator at Caton Farm to right) turn right, go west, 
cross railroad continue west 2 miles to school on right, 
turn left, go south 7^4 miles, passing 2 schools and 1 
church on right, to where road from Minooka comes in 
from left under railroad. From here continue as de¬ 
scribed in Joliet to Morris (Route 1). Road from 
Plainfield to school west of Caton Farm good gravel, 
first 4 miles south of school not very good, last 3*4 
miles better. 

JOLIET TO HINSDALE AND DOWNER’S 
GROVE. 

Proceed from Joliet according to west side route 
Joliet to Chicago until you come to Cass, 16 miles from 
Joliet. At this point after passing Fairview cemetery 
on left and church on right, turn left along west side 
of the Madden place, go north 1 mile (gravel) turn 
right, follow angling road about *4 mile to first road, 
(settlement of Lace just ahead), turn left go north; 


17 


pass school on left and church on right continue north 
3 miles (gravel and crushed rock road) to railroad 
(Gregg station) cross railroad, go north mile to 
macadam road with telephone line. For Downer’s 
Grove turn left 2 miles; for Hinsdale turn right 2 miles. 

JOLIET TO PLAINFIELD—10 MILES. 

From east side of court house in Joliet go north on 
Chicago street 3 blocks to Cass street, turn left, go west 
across bridge and up hill (Cass street becomes Western 
avenue after crossing bridge) continue straight ahead 
on Western avenue up another hill and straight ahead 
to Rayner avenue at west edge of Joliet, turn right and 
go north to junction of Rayner avenue, Granite street 
and Plainfield road (interurban) follow interurban 
northwest all the way to Plainfield continuing with in¬ 
terurban to Plainfield bank. Gravel road all the way. 

PLAINFIELD TO JOLIET—10 MILES. 

From bank of Plainfield go east 1 block, turn to right 
with interurban and follow interurban on gravel road all 
the way to junction of Plainfield road with Granite 
street and Rayner avenue, leave interurban and follow 
Rayner avenue south to Western avenue turn left, go 
east, cross river (Western avenue becomes Cass street, 
at river) follow Cass street east to Chicago street, turn 
to right follow Chicago street, 3 blocks to court house. 

PLAINFIELD TO CHICAGO—41 MILES. 

From Plainfield bank go east 2 blocks passing high 
school on left, turn left and go north to end of street, 
passing depot on right, turn sharp to right follow 


18 


telephone line, cross railroad between elevators, then 
straight ahead on angling northeast road (gravel for 
5 miles out of Plainfield then very poor dirt), to point 
ii miles out where Joliet road comes in from right; 
from here continue as described in Joliet to Chicago 
(west side route). Road for 5 miles out is (air gravel, 
next 5 miles very poor dirt road, last mile new gravel. 

MORRIS TO JOLIET—ROUTE 1. 26 y 2 MILES. 

From court house in Morris go east on Washington 
street to end of street, turn left and follow angling road 
to first bridge over canal, cross bridge, follow canal 
about 4 miles to white bridge, turn left cross canal turn 
right, cross stone bridge over creek, turn left with the 
road and go north. (First road on right is the Chan- 
nahon route hereafter described.) Continue north to 
railroad, cross railroad, continue north 2j4 miles to end 
of road, bridge on left (road winds the last 2 miles) turn 
right, go east 2 miles, continue under railroad to Mi- 
nooka 1 2 Y / 2 miles from Morris. When even with water 
tower on left turn left, go north 1 mile, crossing rail¬ 
road (depot on left) turn right go east 2 miles, pass 
school on left, turn left at next road (railroad crossing 
ahead) go north along river i l / 2 miles, turn right, cross 
river, go east to first road, turn left go north 2 miles 
(passing school and church) to end of road (Troy) turn 
right and follow this road east 5 miles to Joliet coming 
in on Exchange street which you follow down hill and 
across bridge to court house on Jefferson street, Joliet, 
which is the same, east of bridge, as Exchange street. 


19 


MORRIS TO JOLIET via CHANNAHON—24 
MILES. 

This route is shorter and more picturesque than route 
1, but hillier and rougher road with some dirt road. 
Route is the same as route 1, above described, to road on 
right 7 miles from Morris after you have crossed canal 
and creek and turned north. Turn to right here and go 
east 5J/2 miles straight ahead into Channahon. Enter¬ 
ing Channahon cross the bridges and continue to first 
street, turn left, go north to end of street, turn right, 
go east, passing road on left, to end of street, turn left 
and go north to first road, turn right and follow main 
road passing road on right, one on left, cross-road, 
school on right, and road on left, go down hill, cross 
creek and straight ahead 3^4 miles to white bridge over 
canal, cross canal, turn right and straight along canal 
2 miles to Jefferson street, turn right across bridge to 
court house, Joliet. 

MORRIS TO PLAINFIELD—26 MILES. 

Route is same as Joliet No. 1, until you come to cross¬ 
road 12 miles from Morris, where road ahead goes 
under railroad to Minooka. Turn left here and go due 
north. (4 miles north there is a dirt road to right which 
will take you to Joliet by following dirt road east 1 mile, 
north J4 mile to gravel road then east 9 miles on gravel 
road intersecting Morris to Joliet route 1 at Troy.) 
Continue north past church on left go north 3 miles fur¬ 
ther to school on north side of road, turn right go east 
to railroad, (Caton Farm station) cross railroad, go 
east to first road turn left, go north 2 miles to railroad, 
cross railroad turn right go east across railroad and 


20 


river (Du Page) turn left, and follow river road about 
1/4 miles to Plainfield. Entering Plainfield continue 
to Chautauqua grounds, turn right to small park, turn 
left and right around park, turn left i block to business 
street, turn right i block to Plainfield bank, garage 
ahead on right. Road good except for about 3 miles 
south of school where you turn east to Caton Farm. 

CHICAGO TO BLOOMINGTON via AURORA. 

First section.—Chicago to Aurora, via Wheaton or 
Hinsdale. 

Second section.—Aurora to Ottawa via Somonank or 
Newark. 

Third section.—Ottawa to Bloomington. 

CHICAGO TO AURORA via WHEATON—44 
MILES. 

From Michigan avenue go west on Jackson boulevard 
2.2 miles to Ashland avenue, turn right (fire-ball) go 
north across Ogden avenue and Madison street (cau¬ 
tion) to Washington boulevard (Union Park on right) 
turn left and follow Washington boulevard west to 
Garfield Park, keep to left on entering park, but swing 
to right passing fountain and pavillion on right to north¬ 
east corner of park, follow Washington boulevard west 
3*4 miles to 64th avenue, jog right 1 block to Randolph 
boulevard, turn left and follow Randolph boulevard 
west 1 mile to Maple avenue (Oak Park) passing gar¬ 
age on left just before reaching Maple avenue. Turn 
left 2 blocks to Madison street, turn right, follow Madi¬ 
son street west 1.8 miles to 5th avenue (car line branches 
to right) turn right and follow car line north on 5th 
avenue to St. Charles street (Maywood depot across 


21 


railroad) turn left and follow St. Charles street west 
past Melrose Park depot to Bellewood P. O. (Road to 
right at Bellewood P. O. goes north past La Trobe 
Steel and Foundry Co. Works then west at first road 
for Elgin. When Lake street improvements are com¬ 
pleted it will be better to take Lake street from Oak 
Park direct to Melrose Park.) Go west from Bellewood 
P. O. (rough road) under railroad crossing another 
at grade at same place (caution) go to end of street, 
turn left (road to right is another Elgin road) go south 
i block to McKinley school, turn right and go west, pass 
cross road and slow up for double railroad crossing .4 
mile further on. (Usually a bad hole between the 
tracks.) Cross railroads, keep straight ahead on stone 
road passing cross road and road on left and crossing 
railroad. Continue along this road passing cross road 
and keeping to left at fork, continue to bridge, cross 
bridge and continue .2 mile to school house on left. Turn 
right and follow stone road which ends about 1J/2 miles 
west. Continue straight ahead west from end of stone 
road on fairly good gravel, pass through York Center 
and 2p2 miles further on slow up for rough road through 
bottom near bridge at foot of hill. Continue west 2 j 4 
miles to limits of Wheaton. (Stone road last miles.) 
At limits of Wheaton (speed limit sign) turn left, pass 
golf grounds, follow the gravel road south, pass road 
on left, keep straight ahead at cross road at foot of hill 
(barn and windmill on left, house on right) pass school 
on left and continue to end of road, turn right, pass road 
on right (fancy farm buildings) and continue 1 mile 
to viaduct over railroad, cross viaduct, keep straight 
ahead south on macadam street .3 mile to Chicago 
avenue (road on left comes in from Downer’s Grove and 
Hinsdale), turn right, go west on Chicago avenue to 


22 


stone bridge on Main street (Naperville) turn left, cross 
stone bridge, go south i block (High street) turn right 
and follow telephone poles on main road west 9V2 miles 
to Aurora keeping to right at the forks and using care 
at railroad about 3 miles west of Naperville. Enter 
Aurora on New York street, follow New York street 
to Lincoln avenue, turn left 2 blocks to Fox street, turn 
right (caution for bad railroad crossing at foot of hill), 
go west on Fox street across river to hotel. This is a 
good route to take and avoids the “S” hill on the Hins¬ 
dale route. Considerable stone road, fair gravel the 
remainder. No bad hills. 

AURORA TO CHICAGO via WHEATON—44 
MILES. 

From New Bishop Hotel go east, cross river, continue 
east on Fox street to Lincoln avenue at top of hill, turn 
left 2 blocks to New York street, turn right follow New 
York street to end then continue east on gravel road 
along heavy telephone line 8^4 miles to Naperville en¬ 
tering on High street. One block from end of High 
street turn left, cross stone bridge (Main street) turn 
right (Chicago avenue) follow Chicago avenue east .8 
mile to last street in Naperville (road ahead along tele¬ 
phone line is the Downer's Grove and Hinsdale road 
to Chicago), turn left, go north to viaduct, cross viaduct, 
keep straight ahead, pass road on left 1 mile out, (fancy 
farm buildings) continue a short way to fork, turn left 
and go north, pass school on right, pass cross road (barn 
and windmill on right house on left) continue 2 miles 
to fork keep.to left and go north i l / 2 miles to limits of 
Wheaton (speed limit sign and telephone line) turn 
right and go east, pass school, continue east along tele- 


23 


phone line, slow up for rough road at foot of hill, con¬ 
tinue through York Center and to end of road 2 miles 
east of York Center (school on east side of road) turn 
left cross bridge, pass road on left, straight ahead to 
railroad, cross railroad, pass road on right pass cross 
road slow up for bad railroad crossing (usually a bad 
hole between tracks) cross railroad and straight ahead 
(rough road) to McKinley school turn left to first road, 
turn right, go east past Belfewood P. O. to car line on 
St. Charles street, follow St. Charles street to car line 
on 5th avenue (Maywood, depot on left across railroad) 
turn right, follow car line on 5th avenue south l /2 mile 
to car line on Madison street, turn left, follow Madison 
east 1.8 miles to Maple avenue (Oak Park), 1 block 
beyond jog in Madison street. Turn left on Maple 
avenue, 2 blocks to Randolph boulevard. (When Lake 
street improvements are completed you may cross rail¬ 
road at Maywood and follow Lake street to Oak Park.) 
Turn east on Randolph boulevard, follow Randolph 1.1 
miles to 64th avenue, turn right 1 block, turn left and 
foilow Washington boulevard east 3 miles to Garfield 
Park, pass pavillion and fountain on left, swing left to 
east exit and straight ahead on Washington boulevard 
to Union Park (Ashland avenue) turn right, cross Madi¬ 
son and Ogden avenue (caution) continue to Jackson 
boulevard, (fire-ball) turn left and follow Jackson boule¬ 
vard east 2.2 miles to Michigan avenue. 

CHICAGO TO AURORA via HINSDALE AND 
DOWNER’S GROVE. 

See route Chicago to Joliet (west side route) for 
route from Michigan avenue and Jackson boulevard to 
Riverside. Entering Riverside pass red brick high 


24 


school on left to Cottage Store, turn sharp to right leav¬ 
ing water tower on left, go west to bridge, cross bridge 
follow winding macadam road to forks, keep to left, 
follow macadam road past Hollywood and Brookfield 
depots to end of road, turn left, cross railroad, turn right 
and follow railroad to Congress Park depot, keep to left 
and go south i block to Post office, turn right, go west 
to railroad again, follow railroad (crossing another at 
grade) to 5th avenue depot La Grange, continue along 
railroad on Burlington avenue passing La Grange Auto 
Station on left to Stone avenue depot on right, turn left 
and go south to 47th street (heavy telephone line) turn 
right and follow telephone line to Hinsdale. Entering 
Hinsdale continue along railroad past depot on right to 
first street, turn right, cross railroad, go 1 block to heavy 
telephone line, turn left, pass Hinsdale garage on left 
follow heavy telephone line on macadam road to rail¬ 
road, cross railroad and continue to Downer’s Grove 
and through Downer’s Grove to Naperville (pretty 
steep hill to climb before reaching Naperville). Enter¬ 
ing Naperville continue straight ahead on Chicago ave¬ 
nue .8 mile to stone bridge on left (Main street) turn 
left, cross bridge, go 1 block (second street on right, 
High street) turn right and follow telephone poles on 
gravel road keeping to right at forks to New York street, 
Aurora, straight ahead on New York street to Lincoln 
avenue, turn left 2 blocks, turn right (slow for bad rail¬ 
road crossing at foot of hill) continue across river to 
New Bishop hotel or turn right on principal business 
street for Hotel Arthur. 


25 


AURORA TO CHICAGO via DOWNER’S GROVE 
AND HINSDALE. 


(For route Aurora to Naperville see Aurora to Chi¬ 
cago via Wheaton.) Entering Naperville on High 
street continue to within i block from end, turn left, 
cross stone bridge (or proceed to end and cross iron 
bridge) turn right (Chicago avenue), go east on Chi¬ 
cago avenue and straight ahead along telephone line 
to Downer’s Grove and through Downer’s Grove, cross 
railroad and follow macadam road 4 miles to Hinsdale. 
Entering Hinsdale, pass Hinsdale Garage on right, turn 
right to depot at next street, cross railroad just west 
of depot, turn left, follow railroad and then heavy tele¬ 
phone line to La Grange. Turn left on Stone avenue 
as you enter La Grange, (small church near corner) go 
north on Stone avenue to depot, turn right without 
crossing railroad, follow railroad on Burlington avenue, 
past La Grange Auto Station on right and 5th avenue 
depot on left and straight ahead along railroad, (cross¬ 
ing another at grade) to Congress Park Post Office, 
turn left 1 block to depot, turn right, follow railroad 
east to first crossing, turn left, cross railroad, turn right 
follow railroad past Brookfield and Hollywood depots 
to end of road, turn left, keep to right at fork and 
straight ahead on winding macadam road across bridge 
to Riverside (Cottage Store ahead, water tower on 
right), turn sharp to left, pass red brick high school 
building on right and proceed from here according to 
route from Joliet to Chicago (west side route). 


26 


HINSDALE TO JOLIET—23.5 MILES. 

From Hinsdale Garage go west on macadam road 
along telephone line 2.2 miles to road on left, turn left 
go south to railroad (milk station of Gregg) cross rail¬ 
road and go due south (macadam and gravel) 3 miles 
to church on left and school on right (settlement of Lace 
to left) continue south a few rods to end of road, turn 
right, follow angling road mile to road on left, turn 
left and go south 1 mile to Cass coming into angling 
road at west side of the Madden home. Turn right and 
proceed to Joliet (16 miles) as described in Chicago to 
Joliet (west side route). 

OTTAWA AND STREATOR TO BLOOMINGTON 
—66 MILES. 

From court house in Ottawa go south on La Salle 
street to bridge across Illinois river, cross bridge, turn 
left up hill, cross car line when part way up hill, go east 
2 blocks turn right and go south on gravel road straight 
ahead 16 miles to Streator. About 5 miles south of 
Ottawa you will have a steep hill to climb just after 
crossing Covel Creek bridge. This is the only hill not 
an average one which you have to climb between Ot¬ 
tawa and Bloomington. You pass through west side 
of Grand Ridge about 8 miles from Ottawa and come 
into Streator past fair grounds entering Streator on N. 
Bloomington street. Continue straight ahead to Plumb 
House on your right, continue south 1 block to Bridge 
street (school building) turn right and follow Bridge 
street down hill and across Vermilion river to end of 
pavement, turn left, then right to main road (or con¬ 
tinue ahead on Bridge street to vacant lots and angle 
to left to main road), follow main road south 1 mile 


27 


rj'i 


Dwight to Bloomington. Streator to Bloomington. 



28 












































to end, turn right and go west about i l / 2 miles to small 
iron bridge on your left at cross road, turn left at this 
bridge and go south 5 miles to Ancona, continue straight 
through Ancona to Sante Fe tracks, cross tracks and 
continue south 12 miles to Illinois Central railroad, 1 
mile west of Flanagan, cross railroad and; continue 
south 10 miles to T. P. & W. Ry. mile east of 
Gridley, cross T. P. & W. Ry., go straight ahead to 
first road, turn right and go west J4 mile to cross road 
at south edge of Gridley, turn left and go south 1 mile 
to cross road, turn right and go west 1 mile, turn left 
and go south 4 miles to Mackinaw river, (steep hill to 
descend l / 2 mile before reaching river, bad bump off 
bridge at bottom of hill), continue south 4 miles taking 
jogs in road to left, turn right, cross Money creek on iron 
bridge, turn left at first road and go south 2 miles past 
church on right to end of road, make little jog to right 
then south again y 2 mile to end of road, jog left, then 
south through west side of Towanda to C. & A. right 
of way, turn right and follow railroad about 2^2 miles 
to second cross road, turn left, cross railroad, pass school 
on right, continue south to end of road, turn right and go 
west to first road, turn left and go south to end of road, 
turn right and go west mile to first road (school house 
on corner), turn left and go south then angling across Kan¬ 
kakee branch of Illinois Central railroad all the way to 
asphalt pavement, follow asphalt 2 blocks, turn right and 
go west, cross I. C. railroad and continue west to court 
house, Bloomington. 


29 


BLOOMINGTON TO GENEVA LAKE, WISCON¬ 
SIN—166 MILES. 


First section.—Bloomington to Ottawa, 66 miles. 

Second Section.—Ottawa to Sycamore, 51.4 miles. 

Third section.—Sycamore to Geneva Lake, 48.6 miles. 

BLOOMINGTON TO STREATOR AND OTTAWA. 

From court house in Bloomington go east on East 
Jefferson street, cross I. C. railroad continue to To- 
wanda avenue, which angles to left 1 block from end of 
street, turn left and follow Towanda avenue into angling 
road, follow angling road to Kankakee branch of I. C. rail¬ 
road, cross railroad, follow angling road to end then 
north to end of road (school house on left) turn right 
and go east J /\. mile to first road, turn left and go north 
]/ 2 mile to first road, turn right and go east niile to 
first road, turn left and go north to C. & A. railroad, 
cross railroad (double track) turn right and follow rail¬ 
road about 2j4 miles to second road on your left which 
forms the west street of Towanda. Turn left, go north 
through west side of Towanda to end of road jog left to 
first road, turn right and go north y 2 mile to end of road, 
jog right, then continue north 2 miles to end of road, 
turn right, then cross Money Creek on iron bridge, turn left 
at first road on top of hill, go north past school on left 
to end of road, jog left to first road, turn right and go 
north to end of road, jog left to first road, turn right 
and go north 2^4 miles to Mackinaw river, cross bridge 
and continue north to small bridge at foot of steep hill 
(go slow, bad rise to bridge) climb hill and continue 
north 3^2 miles to end of road, turn right and go east 
1 mile to second road on left, turn left and go north 
1 mile to cross road just south of T. P. & W. Ry. at 


30 


Gridley, turn right and go east ^4 mile, turn left, cross 
railroad and go north io miles to Illinois Central rail¬ 
road I mile west of Flanagan, cross railroad and con¬ 
tinue north 12 miles to Ancona crossing Sante Fe tracks 
just south of Ancona. Keep straight ahead through 
Ancona 5 miles to small iron bridge just after passing 
between barn on right and house on left (look out for 
chickens) turn right just as you have crossed small 
bridge and go east a little over a mile to first road on 
your left (sharp turn watch out for teams) turn left 
and go north 1 mile to west side of Streator, angle 
across vacant lots to Bridge street or turn right and 
left to Bridge street, follow Bridge street across Ver¬ 
milion river to N. Bloomington street (school building 
on right) turn left and go iy 2 blocks to hotel on left. 
Continue straight ahead north on this street crossing 
railroads and passing fair grounds on right. Quite a 
steep'winding hill to climb just across bridge after pass¬ 
ing “First and Last Chance” saloon on right. From 
top of hill continue straight ahead north through west 
side of Grand Ridge (8 miles from Streator) and keep 
this road all the way to Ottawa. Look out for steep 
descent with bridge at bottom at Covel Creek about 3 
miles beyond Grand Ridge. Coming into Ottawa con¬ 
tinue straight ahead to end of street at river bank turn 
left, cross car line and follow car line down hill and 
across bridge over Illinois river and straight ahead on 
La Salle street to court house. (For remainder of route 
to Geneva Lake see Ottawa to Sycamore.) 


31 


—3 


BLOOMINGTON TO CHICAGO. 


First section.—Bloomington to Dwight, or Blooming¬ 
ton to Ottawa. 

Second section.—Dwight to Joliet or Plainfield; or 
Ottawa to Aurora. 

Third section.—Joliet or Plainfield to Chicago; or 
Aurora to Chicago. 

BLOOMINGTON TO DWIGHT—62 MILES. 

Since the diagram of this section of the road was 
drawn I have changed the routing in and out of Bloom¬ 
ington to avoid paving work in Normal, so that the dia¬ 
gram and descriptions do not agree as to entering and 
leaving Bloomington. In leaving Bloomington go east 
on Jefferson street from north side of court house, cross 
I. C. railroad, continue to Towanda avenue, which 
angles to left 1 block from end of Jefferson street, turn 
left and follow Towanda avenue and angling road to 
Kankakee branch of I. C. railroad, cross railroad, follow 
angling road to end then north J4 mile to end of road, 
(school house on left) turn right and go east pj mile to 
first road, turn left and go north J4 mile to end of road, 
turn right and go east mile to first road, turn left and 
go north to C. & A. railroad (double track) cross rail¬ 
road, turn right and follow railroad about 3 miles to 
business street of Towanda practically 9 miles from 
Bloomington. Continue through business street of To¬ 
wanda, jog left and right to northeast corner of town, 
then east to first road, turn left, go north to end of road, 
turn right and go east to first road then turn left and 
go north nearly 2 miles to end of road, turn right, go 
east i*4 miles to second road on your left, turn left 
and go north J4 mile to first road on your right, turn 


32 


right and go east i mile to gravel road and continue 
along gravel road to railroad, cross railroad and continue 
on gravel road across Mackinaw river to principal busi¬ 
ness street of Lexington, Cottage hotel on right. Turn 
right and go through business part, jog left and right 
on gravel road to “White Rock Farm” at northeast 
corner of Lexington, turn left and go north on gravel 
road to railroad, cross railroad, continue north i y 2 miles 
to cross road, turn right and go east i mile to railroad, 
turn left without crossing and follow railroad past Bal¬ 
lard station and continue along railroad about 3^2 miles 
to crossing at south edge of Chenoa, cross railroad, 
turn left and follow business street to T. P. & W. Ry, 
cross this railroad, turn right and go 2 blocks, turn left 
on York street and continue to C. & A. right of way, 
follow railroad to second road on right about 1 mile 
from Chenoa. Here you have a choice of routes. (You 
may continue to the crossing, cross railroad, go north 
to second road, turn right, cross railroad, turn left at 
first road, cross railroad at Ocoya keep to right and go 
north to second road, jog right to first road, turn left 
and go north and east to railroad then north past poor 
farm, turn right, cross railroad and go east to first road 
then turn left and go straight ahead to Pontiac.) It is 
ordinarily better and avoids crossing the railroad to 
turn right at the road above mentioned before reaching 
railroad crossing north of Chenoa, go east to first road, 
turn left, pass cemetery, go north to school house, turn 
right, go east 2 miles to school house and church, turn 
left and go north 4 miles to Pontiac. Entering Pontiac 
turn to right into street running east on north side of 
State Reformatory grounds and go east to Vermilion 
street, turn left, go north on Vermilion street, cross 
river, turn to right on Washington street and go east to 


33 


east side of court house, turn left on Main street and 
follow Main street north to end, jog left, cross C. & A. 
tracks, keep to right across another railroad, follow 
C. & A. then turn sharp to right again across C. & A. 
railroad, turn left and follow between railroad and' 
interurban to crossing, cross C. & A. railroad again and 
follow telephone line north about i l /> miles to second 
road on right, turn right and follow telephone poles 
east mile, jog right and left to railroad right of way, 
turn left without crossing (Cayuga depot on your right) 
follow heavy telephone line on north side of railroad 
5 miles to Odell. At end of business street in Odell, 
jog left to first street, turn right, keep to right to rail¬ 
road and follow on north side of railroad 7 miles to 
Dwight. Entering Dwight keep straight ahead on S. 
Washington street a short distance to W. Chippewa 
street, turn right 1 block, turn left and straight ahead 
past C. & A. depot on your right to Livingston hotel. 

DWIGHT TO BLOOMINGTON—62 MILES. 

Leaving Livingston hotel on your right, C. & A. 
depot on your left go to end of paved street, turn to 
right on W. Chippewa street, go west 1 block to S. 
Washington street, turn left and go straight ahead 
across branch tracks to C. & A. right of way, follow 
C. & A. railroad 7 miles to Odell ; keep to left entering 
town then jog left to main business street. Turn right 
on main business street, depot on left, and follow on 
north side of C. & A. railroad 5 miles to Cayuga station, 
turn to right just before reaching depot on left and 
follow heavy telephone line west about ^4 mile, turn 
left and follow telephone line about i ]/ 2 miles to 
C. & A. railroad, cross railroad, turn right and run be- 


34 


tween railroad and interurban about 2 miles to crossing, 
turn sharply to right across C. & A. raiload, to left 
along C. & A. to another railroad, cross and keep left 
to C. & A. railroad again, cross C. & A. railroad and 
go ]/ 2 block to Main street, follow Main street to south 
side of court house, Pontiac. From south side of court 
house go west on Washington street to Vermilion street 
(nearly to depot) turn left, cross river and straight 
ahead to State Reformatory grounds, turn right to first 
road, turn left and follow this road south 4 miles to 
church and school, turn right and go west 2 miles to 
school, turn left and go south to cemetery, turn right 
and go west 1 mile to C. & A. railroad, turn left and 
follow railroad to Chenoa, continuing straight ahead to 
T. P. & W. Ry., turn right 2 blocks, to left across T. P. 
& W. Ry. and straight ahead through business street 
to C. & A. railroad crossing at south edge of Chenoa, 
Cross C. & A. railroad and turn left. (The road con¬ 
tinuing west from this crossing follows south of T. P. 
& W. Ry. straight west past Gridley, El Paso and Eu¬ 
reka to Peoria.) Follow C. & A. railroad past Ballard 
station and to first road beyond, turn right and go west 
1 mile, turn left and go south miles to C. & A. rail¬ 
road, cross railroad and straight ahead on gravel road 
to Lexington (“White Rock Farm” on left), turn right 
and follow gravel road west and south to principal busi¬ 
ness street. Go west on principal business street of 
Lexington nearly to depot (hotel on left), turn left and 
follow gravel road across Mackinaw river and straight 
ahead to C. & A. railroad, cross railroad and follow 
gravel road to end then continue 1 mile on dirt road 
to end of road, turn left and go south ^4 of a mile to end 
of road, turn right and go west i T /\ miles to first road 
on left, turn left and go south 3 miles to Towanda, tak- 


35 


Aurora to Ottawa (two routes.) Ottawa to Morris, Streator 

and Starved Rock. 



36 







































ing jogs at end of road to right. From Towanda fol¬ 
low on north side of C. & A. railroad (depot on left) 
about 3 miles to cross road, turn left, cross C. & A. rail¬ 
road, pass school on right, continue south to end of road, 
turn right and go west 34 mile to first road, turn left 
and go south 34 mile to end of road, turn right and go 
west 34 mile to first road (school house on corner), 
turn left and go south to end of road, then angling 
southwest across railroad and straight ahead passing 
Country Club on left, go 2 blocks to Jefferson street, 
turn right and go west to court house, Bloomington. 

DWIGHT TO MORRIS AND JOLIET. 

Leaving C. & A. depot on right and Livingston hotel 
on left go to railroad crossing, turn sharp to left with¬ 
out crossing, follow N. Franklin street past small park to 
elevator, turn right about 34 mile, turn left, cross railroad, 
go north J4 mile to first road, turn right to first road, 
turn left and go north through east side of Mazon to 
end of road (school house at end), turn left and go west 
y 2 mile, turn right and follow this road to bridge over 
river and canal, cross bridge and continue to Washing¬ 
ton street, turn to right to court house. See Morris to 
Joliet for remander of route. 

AURORA TO OTTAWA via SANDWICH AND 
SOMONAUK—52 MILES. 

Go east on Fox street to Lincoln avenue at top of 
hill, turn right and follow Lincoln avenue south, cross 
railroad, pass cemeteries, turn right to Fox river, turr. 
left and follow river to covered bridge over Fox river 
at Montgomery, cross bridge, turn left a few blocks, 
turn right, cross car line, go one block, turn left and 


37 


follow railroad to crossing, cross railroad and go west 
to first road, turn left, cross railroad again and follow 
interurban south until it turns left to cross river to 
Oswego. Turn right, with the road, and continue 
straight ahead to Yorkville. As you are starting down 
hill toward bridge over Fox river in Yorkville, turn right 
into narrow street and keep straight ahead west about 
5 miles to small iron bridge near 3 span iron bridge 
across Fox river, turn right and go north up long easy 
hill 1 mile, turn left and go west 5 miles to Sandwich. 
Jog left 1 block, then west to railroad, follow railroad 
and angling road to forks, keep to right and go west 
3 miles to Somonauk, keeping straight ahead to Cath¬ 
olic church, turn left at church and go south, swinging 
southwest at end of street. Rollow this main road 
southwest and south 10 miles (passing Northville P. O. 
and crossing railroad) to cross road near small town 
of Serena niile to your left about miles after 
crossing railroad. Turn right and go west 2]/ 2 miles to 
Indian Creek. Cross bridge and climb steep hill, con¬ 
tinue west from top of hill about mile to first road, 
turn left and go south 1 mile to end of road, turn right 
and go west 2 miles to church, turn left and go south 
about 2 miles to fork in road at bottom of hill, keep to 
left and climb hill, then straight ahead 8 miles to Ottawa. 
About 3 miles of dirt road in this last stretch. You pass 
St. Columbia cemetery on your left about 1 mile from 
Ottawa, turn left and cross railroad. At water works 
turn right and go west to car line at Fair Grounds, fol¬ 
low car line west then south, cross railroad and canal, 
and straight ahead on Columbus street to hotel, turn 
right one block to court house. 


38 


OTTAWA TO AURORA via SOMONAUK AND 
SANDWICH—52 MILES. 

From court house go east on Madison street 1 block 
to Columbus street, turn left, go north on Columbus 
street, cross canal and railroad, follow car line to where 
it turns east, turn right and follow car line east to Fair 
Grounds, continue east to water works, turn left, cross 
railroad, go north ]/ 2 mile, then east past St. Columbia 
cemetery, turn left and keep straight ahead north about 
7 miles (about 3 miles dirt road) to where road forks 
at bottom of hill. Keep to right, then swing north again 
and go north about 2 miles to church on left, turn right 
and go east 2 miles to end of road, turn left, go north 1 
mile to first road, turn right and go east mile to top 
of Indian Creek hill. Steep descent to bridge. Cross 
bridge and continue east 2j4 miles to cross road near 
small town of Serena about ]/^ mile ahead to left. Turn 
left at this road and go north and northeast on main 
traveled road (first mile may be rough) 10 miles to 
Somonauk. Entering Somonauk from south continue 
a short way to Catholic church and school, turn right 
and go east 3 miles to angling road, turn left and fol¬ 
low angling road to railroad, follow railroad to Sand¬ 
wich. From main business street of Sandwich go east 
5 miles to end of road, turn right, go down long hill 1 
mile to small iron bridge near 3 span iron bridge over 
Fox river, cross small bridge, keep to left and follow 
north side of Fox river about 5 miles to Yorkville. As 
you come out on street leading down to bridge over 
Fox river in Yorkville turn left to top of hill, turn 
right 1 block, turn left and go to north edge of (town, 
turn right and go east, then northeast on angling road 
about 8 miles until road turns north opposite Oswego. 


89 


From here go north along interurban to railroad, cross 
railroad, go north to first road, turn right, cross rail¬ 
road, turn left and follow railroad to Montgomery, turn 
right, cross car line, go i block, turn left to covered 
bridge across Fox river, cross bridge and go east to 
first road, turn left and follow river north to forks, keep 
to right to first road, turn left and go north to Lincoln 
avenue, Aurora, follow Lincoln avenue to Fox street, 
turn left down hill (bad railroad crossing) and continue 
across river to hotel and garage. 

AURORA TO OTTAWA via NEWARK—49 MILES. 

Route is the same as Aurora to Ottawa via Somonauk 
until you come to 3 span iron bridge over Fox river, 5 
miles west of Yorkville. From this point, cross Fox 
river and climb hill, turn right and follow this road to 
railroad, cross railroad, down one hill and up another 
to east edge of Milbrook ahead. Turn left, follow this 
road, keeping to right at forks, and continue along this 
road (some dirt) to Newark. Entering Newark turn 
left at top of hill, go block, turn right 1 block to hotel, 
turn left, go south to main road, keep to right and fol¬ 
low angling road to Norway and straight through Nor¬ 
way to forks about 2 miles out (road to left leads to 
Danway), keep straight ahead to intersection with road 
from left, go down hill, cross creek, pass church on left 
and follow main traveled gravel road to railroad 1 mile 
east of Ottawa, cross railroad and canal, turn right, 
follow canal, cross bridge, follow this street, Superior, 
to Columbus street or La Salle street, turn left to court 
house. 


40 


OTTAWA TO AURORA via NEWARK—49 MILES. 

From north side of court house in Ottawa go east 1 
block to Columbus street, turn left, follow car line north 
to Superior street nearly to railroad, turn right, follow 
Superior street east across bridge over Fox river (canal 
sluice on left), follow canal east to first bridge, cross 
canal and railroad, follow road northeast keeping to left 
at first fork and following main traveled road northeast 
until you pass a church on right about 6 miles from Ot¬ 
tawa, pass church, go down hill, cross bridge, pass road 
on left as you climb hill, continue a short way to fork, 
keep to left and follow angling northeast road to Nor¬ 
way. Straight through Norway, keep to right at fork 
north of town and follow angling road to Newark. Turn 
left into Newark, go to hotel, turn right 1 block, left ]/i 
block, turn right, descend hill, keep to left at the forks 
(some dirt road) to east edge of Millbrook, turn sharp 
to right, go down hill and up another to railroad, cross 
railroad, straight ahead north and northeast on bank of 
Fox river. At road on left some 2 miles after crossing 
railroad, turn left down hill to bridge over river, cross 
turn right and follow river. From this point to Aurora 
the route is the same as Ottawa to Aurora via Somonauk 
and Sandwich, the connection being at the small iron 
bridge near the Fox river bridge. Road fair, but hilly. 

OTTAWA TO MORRIS—25 MILES. 

Leave Ottawa on Superior street as though going to 
Aurora via Newark. After crossing canal and railroad, 
take first road to right, keep to right at next forks and 
continue around base of hills to Marseilles. Keep on 
east on Bluff street in Marseilles. After jogging half a 
block north at east end of town continue straight ahead, 


41 



42 





















































keeping to right at forks. Cross railroad and canal at 
Seneca and go south to the third street, turn to left and 
follow road. No forks. Road crosses canal half way 
between Seneca and Morris on high bridge, steep ap¬ 
proaches. Continue to first street in Morris, Jefferson 
street; turn to right to city. Road sand, gravel, and 
dirt. 

OTTAWA TO STARVED ROCK—io MILES. 

Go west from court house in Ottawa, cross bridge and 
jog south and west about six blocks to Ottawa avenue, 
which is a boulevard with grass and tree plot in middle. 
Continue west on Ottawa avenue past poor farm to 
bridge across canal. Keep to left along the bottom road, 
which brings you to bridge across Illinois river, south of 
Utica. Cross bridge and go south J 4 mile, turn left into 
entrance to Starved Rock Park. 

BLOOMINGTON TO PEORIA, via DANVERS, 
MACKINAW, ALLENTOWN and MORTON. 

(Route No. i—42*4 miles.) 

Go north on Main street from east side of court 
house 2 blocks to West Market street, turn left 
and follow Market' street under C. & A. railroad to end 
of pavement, continue straight ahead from end of pave¬ 
ment, cross L. E. &' W. Ry., keep straight- ahead to 
forks 3 miles from start, take right hand road and 
follow heavy telephone line to Danvers, (ioj^ miles,) 
using great care at crossings of Big Four railway and 
interurban tracks, as view is obstructed. Cross inter- 
urban at east edge of Danvers, follow interurban up 
town to one block past hotel on left, turn right 1 block, 
left to end of street, jog right a few rods, then left and 


43 


follow heavy telephone line. Road crosses interurban 
and Big Four, i l / 2 miles west of Danvers, runs along 
south side of Big Four railway, I mile to end of road, 
then crosses Big Four railway and runs between Big 
Four and interurban past Woodruff station until near 
Lilly, then crosses Big Four railway to left and follows 
Big Four railway to Lilly, i 6 l / 2 miles from Bloomington. 
Jog left a few rods when past depot in Lilly and follow 
heavy telephone line to Mackinaw (20 y 2 miles). Cross 
interurban and railroad as you enter Mackinaw and 
keep straight ahead through the town and down long 
hill. Keep to right where road forks near water tank, 
cross railroad and river and follow railroad about *4 mile 
to foot of hill. Turn sharply to right, go under railroad 
trestle, cross interurban on a hill (dangerous crossing) 
and keep straight ahead about 1miles to end of road, 
then west about 1% miles to Allentown. Cross railroad 
and interurban at Allentown, keep on west, (some hilly,) 
pass school house on left 2j4 miles from Allentown, keep 
on west mile, turn right and go north (with one 
slight jog to left,) to Morton (31.5.) Cross railroad, 
Farmer’s elevator on your right, turn left and follow 
narrow street along railroad to Pekin House, turn right 
1 block to interurban, Morton bank on corner, turn left, 
follow interurban as far as you can, cross interurban 
and go west, following telephone line 5 miles to junction 
of road from Groveland to East Peoria, turn right and 
follow telephone line 3 miles to East Peoria. Use great 
care in descending East Peoria hill. At bottom of hill 
turn left on Washington street, go straight ahead to car 
line, follow car line to bridge over Illinois river, cross 
bridge, continue 2 blocks to Adams street, turn right to 
court house, turn left, follow west Main street to garage. 
It is Sy 2 miles from Morton to East Peoria. This is 


44 


probably the best “all year round” route between Bloom¬ 
ington and Peoria. All dirt road until near Peoria. This 
route measures practically 42 y 2 miles. 

BLOOMINGTON TO PEORIA via BOYLE’S 
GROVE and TREMONT. 

(Route No. 2, about 46 miles.) 

The route is the same as the Morton route just de¬ 
scribed as far as the forks in the road near the water 
tank just west of Mackinaw. At this point instead of 
keeping to right take the left road, cross Vandalia rail¬ 
road, and further on the Big Four, follow Big Four west, 
keeping straight ahead where one road turns south, to 
the bank of the Mackinaw river, follow bank of Macki¬ 
naw south about 1 mile to bridge, cross bridge and keep 
this road straight ahead past Boyle’s Grove on your 
right. Small telephone line. Cross Big Four on hill, 
(dangerous) swing left with the road at top of hill and 
go west to end of road, north about mile to first road, 
then to left and straight ahead west to Tremont, cross¬ 
ing Big Four again as you are climbing hill. On en¬ 
tering Tremont (29 miles) pass livery stable on right and 
hotel on left. At next street, (hardware store on 
corner,) turn right, go north, cross railroad, keep north 
to small park on right. From north side of park go west 
about 2 miles, turn right to Big Four railroad. This is 
both a grade and subway crossing and the elevator at 
Leslie can be seen about a y 2 mile to your left. Keep 
straight ahead over railroad and north to Groveland, 
follow telephone poles straight ahead through Grove- 
land to E. Peoria. The telephone line coming in on 
your right after passing Groveland is on the Morton 
road. Entrance to Peoria is the same as in the route 


45 


last described. This route measures about 46 miles 
and is a fair road, though all dirt, but cannot be traveled 
between Boyle’s Grove and Mackinaw if the Mackinaw 
river is out of its banks. 

BLOMINGTON TO PEORIA. 

(Shortest route—39.7 Miles.) 

This route follows the old State road from Lilly to 
Morton and measures 39.7 miles from the court house in 
Bloomington to the court house in Peoria divided as fol¬ 
lows: Danvers 10.5, Lilly 16.5, Morton 29.3, E. Peoria 
(First Nat. Bank) 37.8, Peoria (court house) 39.7. From 
Lilly to within about 5 miles of Morton the road angles 
and winds through the woods and would not be prac¬ 
ticable for automobiles after a considerable rain, as the 
woods shut out the sun a good deal. Leave Blooming¬ 
ton the same as in the other described routes and 
proceed the same to Lilly. At Lilly instead of jogging 
to left and following the heavy telephone line, turn to 
right after passing depot, cross Big Four, angle left 
across interurban, follow small telephone line about 
of a mile to fork. At this point keep to left and follow 
winding road through woods northwest and west to end 
of road, turn right and keep this road northwest, north 
and west to the bridge over Mackinaw river. Cross 
bridge, swing to right a- short distance but keep to left 
at the forks where the road continues north along bank 
of river. Follow road west, winding through the bot¬ 
toms and northwest up long hill, gravel road bed. Road 
turns north soon after reaching top of hill and comes 
to an end. Turn left, pass road on left and continue 
west to end of road, go north to end of road, then west 
again to end of road, (house on comer) turn right and 


46 


go north, then west across creek to telephone line. 
This point is 24.7 miles, from Bloomington. Fol¬ 
low telephone line west to interurban and Big Four rail¬ 
road, then north 1 y 2 miles and west to Morton. (Mor¬ 
ton Bank 29.3.) Follow interurban through Morton and 
as far as you can beyond, cross interurban and follow 
telephone poles, cross railroad, pass Robert’s cemetery. 
At next road, practically 3 miles from Morton Bank, turn 
right, go north about 1 mile to forks, keep to left, fol¬ 
low winding road across stone bridge and northwest to 
interurban, cross interurban and follow the road straight 
ahead. Road keeps up on the bluff. Interurban is on 
your left at the foot of the bluffs. Watch for pretty 
steep hill which you descend about 2 miles after cross¬ 
ing interurban. At foot of hill turn right and follow in¬ 
terurban to end of road, (Vine St., East Peoria,) make 
short jog to right to E. Washington St., (Defenbaugh’s 
grocery on your left, saloon on right,) turn left and fol¬ 
low E. Washington street to First Nat. Bank of E. Peoria 
on your left, continue straight ahead following car line 
on paved street to bridge across Illinois river, cross 
bridge, continue straight, ahead two blocks to end of 
street, turn right and follow S. Adams street about 
five blocks to court house. Turn left on West Main 
street about 5 or 6 blocks to garage. Road is dirt and 
clay from Bloomington to the hill west of the Mackinaw 
river, gravel over the hill, dirt and clay the balance 
of the way until within a short distance from top of last 
hill near East Peoria. Road is rolling but no bad hills 
to climb. 


47 


PEORIA TO BLOOMINGTON via MORTON 
AND ALLENTOWN. (Route 1— 42iMiles.) 

From court house in Peoria go south on Adams street 
about 5 blocks to Bridge street, turn left to bridge over 
Illinois river, cross bridge, follow car line to First Nat. 
Bank of East Peoria, continue straight ahead over small 
bridge to Springfield street on right, turn right and climb 
long steep hill, follow road about 3 miles to road on left, 
where telephone line divides, turn left and follow telephone 
line 5 miles to Morton, following interurban to Morton 
bank. Turn right 1 block to Pekin house, turn left along 
railroad to Farmer’s elevator, cross railroad, go south 4 
miles (1 little jog to left) to end of road, turn left, go east 
3 miles to Allentown, cross railroad and interurban, con¬ 
tinue east about 1% miles to end of road, turn right, fol¬ 
low this road south, cross interurban (dangerous crossing) 
as you descend hill, continue to railroad, go under rail¬ 
road, turn left, follow railroad, cross river and railroad 
and climb long hill (bad railroad crossings) to Mackinaw, 
continue straight ahead through Mackinaw, cross inter¬ 
urban at east edge of town, follow heavy telephone line 
and interurban to crossing, cross interurban and railroad 
and follow heavy telephone line to Lilly. Follow telephone 
line along railroad from Lilly to crossing, cross railroad 
and run between interurban and railroad past Woodruff 
station to end of road, cross railroad and follow telephone 
line 1 mile, cross railroad and interurban again (bad cross¬ 
ing) and follow telephone line 1^4 miles to Danvers. En¬ 
tering Danvers jog right Yz block, turn left, go east 2 
blocks, turn right 1 block, turn left, follow interurban to 
east edge of town, cross interurban and follow heavy tele¬ 
phone line 10 miles to Bloomington watching carefully at 
railroad and interurban crossings. Entering Bloomington 
follow car line on West Market street to Main street, turn 
right 2 blocks to court house. 

48 


PEORIA TO BLOOMINGTON via TRE- 
MONT AND BOYLES GROVE. 

(Route 2, about 46 Miles.) 

Leave Peoria as described in route i and continue to 
where Morton road turns to left 3 miles from E. Peoria. 
At this point continue south along telephone line to Grove- 
land and through Groveland, cross Sante Fe tracks and 
continue south about 3 miles to Big Four railroad, cross 
railroad and go south to first road, turn left and go east 
2 miles to Tremont. Entering Tremont continue to park, 
turn right, cross railroad, go south about 3 blocks to hard¬ 
ware store on right, turn left and go east, cross railroad as 
you descend hill, continue east to top of next hill, turn 
right to first road, turn left, go east, cross Big Four rail¬ 
road again as you descend hill, continue east, pass Boyle’s 
Grove, cross Mackinaw river, turn left, follow this road 
north, east and north to Big Four railroad, cross railroad, 
continue to another railroad, cross and follow this road up 
long hill to Mackinaw. Proceed to Bloomington as de¬ 
scribed in route 1. 

PEORIA TO BLOOMINGTON. 

Shortest way. (39-7 miles.) 

Leave court house on right, follow S. Adams street, 
south about 5 blocks to Bridge street, turn left to bridge 
over Illinois river, cross bridge, follow car line on brick 
pavement, W. Washington street to First Nat. Bank 
of E. Peoria (2.1,) follow E. Washington street eight- 
tenths of a mile to Vine street, Defenbaugh’s grocery on 
your right, make short jog to right then continue east 
across interurban and follow interurban about a mile to 
forks near crossing, turn sharply to left up winding hill. 


49 


From top of hill, which is a good stiff climb but not so 
bad as the E. Peoria hill, follow the road as it winds 
along top of bluff about 2 miles to interurban, cross in¬ 
terurban, follow this road east about one mile to end of 
road, turn right about 1 mile to telephone line, turn 
left, follow telephone line 3 miles to Morton. From Mor¬ 
ton you may proceed to Bloomington via Allentown as 
described in route No. 1, or, to continue the shortest way, 
keep straight ahead along interurban to east edge of 
Morton,'follow heavy telephone line east, south and east 
to where the line turns south 4.6 miles from Morton 
Bank. At this point continue east, cross creek, swing 
south with the road to first road on your left (house on 
corner,) turn left to end of road, right to first road, then 
left and keep this road east, passing road on right. A 
few rods after passing this road, (houses on left,) turn 
right and keep this road south and south east, winding 
down long hill and through the bottoms to bridge over 
Mackinaw river. Cross bridge, turn left, follow road 
north a few rods, then east, south and south east, keep¬ 
ing to left at the forks, until you come to small tele¬ 
phone line, follow this telephone line about mile to 
Lilly. Cross interurban and Big Four, turn left to heavy 
telephone line, proceed to Bloomington as described in 
route No. t. Gravel from E. Peoria until some distance 
beyond top of the bluff, dirt and clay balance of way 
except gravel on hill west of Mackinaw. No bad hills 
after climbing the bluff out of East Peoria. Road 
through woods north west of Lilly is likely to have mud 
holes after a wet spell. 


50 


PEORIA TO PEKIN via BARTONVILLE, 
ii MILES. 

Leaving court house on right follow car line south on 
South Adams street. At end of pavement continue 
straight ahead along heavy telephone line to Barton- 
ville, climb hill to left, (not bad,) pass Bartonville school 
on left. From Bartonville, the road, gravel and in fair 
condition, follows the bluff on your right and the river 
bottoms on your left. Follow heavy telephone line. Nine 
miles from Peoria court house, just after passing coal 
mine, turn left to dyke road, rough surface, and follow 
dyke to bridge over Illinois river, cross bridge to Pekin, 
coming in on Court street. No bad hills, the one at 
Bartonville being the heaviest. 

PEKIN TO PEORIA via BARTONVILLE, 
ii MILES. 

Leaving court house on your left go west on Court 
street to bridge over Illinois river, cross bridge, keep 
straight ahead across dyke road about i.8 miles to end, 
turn right and follow heavy telephone line. Gravel road, 
no bad hills. A trifle under 6 miles from end of dyke 
where you make this right turn you come to the South 
Adams street pavement in Peoria. Follow S. Adams 
street to court house. Telephone line increases in size 
from 3 to 6 arms as you near Peoria. 

BLOOMINGTON TO PEKIN—(37.5 MILES via 
ALLENTON.) 

This route is the same as Peoria No. 1 from Blooming¬ 
ton to Allentown and from Allentown west 3 miles to the 
point where you turn north to Morton. At this point 


51 


instead of turning north keep on west about 6)4 miles 
to end of road, jog right to Elm Hill school, turn left, 
cross railroad, (bad crossing) climb hill, pretty steep 
but short and continue down long hill 2)4 miles to 
Pekin. Some sand after you reach foot of long hill. 
Keep straight ahead on Court street to court house. 
Another route via Tremont is the same as route No. 2 
from Bloomington to Peoria until you come to cross 
road 1 mile north after crossing Big Four railroad 2 
miles west of Tremont. At this point turn left 2)4 miles 
to end of road, jog right to Elm Hill school and proceed 
to Pekin as above described. This route is about 2 miles 
longer than the Allentown route. 

PEKIN TO BLOOMINGTON. (37.5 MILES via 
ALLENTOWN.) 

Leaving court house in Pekin on your right go east 
on Court street to end of pavement, keep straight ahead 
through sand to foot of long hill having good, hard 
roadway and continue up hill. At top of hill where road 
forks keep to left, descend short steep hill, (dangerous 
railroad crossing at bottom) continue on this road east 
to Elm Hill school, 4 miles from Pekin. Jog right to 
first road, turn left and keep straight ahead east about 
2 miles to cross road. This is the Peoria road via Grove- 
land. From this point you may keep straight ahead east 
7 miles to Allentown and follow Bloomington-Peoria 
route No. 1 to Bloomington; or at Groveland road turn 
right and follow Bloomington-Peoria route No. 2 via 
Tremont and Boyle’s Grove. The latter road is about 
2 miles longer than the Allentown road and is more hilly, 
though more picturesque. 


52 


PEKIN TO DELAVAN. (20.3 MILES.) 

Leaving court house on your right go east on Court 
street to end of pavement. Keep straight ahead at end 
of pavement through pretty deep sand for about 2 miles 
to foot of long hill having good roadway. At top of 
hill where the road forks, keep to left, descend short 
steep hill, (railroad at bottom,) follow this road about 
1 mile to Elm Hill school, 4 miles from Pekin, make 
short jog right, turn left and keep this road east 2 miles 
to the Groveland road, turn right, go south, cross rail¬ 
road, (grade and subway crossing), Leslie elevator 
about mile to your right. The first road south of 
this railroad is the Tremont road. Keep straight ahead 
south 2.5 miles to end of road, make a little jog to right, 
then south again and angling a little southwest 1.4 miles 
to settlement of Dillon. Keep straight ahead through 
Dillon, following small telephone line down long hill on 
angling southeast road which turns south to the bridge 
over the Mackinaw river about 2 miles from Dillon. 
Cross bridge, swing to right with the road for a short 
distance, then south. (About mile after turning 
south there is a narrow road to right which I am told 
will take you over the bluff on an easier grade than by 
continuing south, but as I have not been over it I am 
unable to vouch for the fact. If you think the hill south 
on the following described route is too much for your 
car you might try it.) Keep straight ahead south from 
Mackinaw river over steep hill. From top of this hill 
go south about 2 miles to second road on your right, turn 
right 1 mile to first road, turn left and go south 2 J /4 miles 
to Delavan, coming in on the principal business street. 
Pass school on left, Tazewell Bank on right and keep 
straight ahead 2 blocks to hotel, Tazewell House, on 


53 


your right. No bad hills to climb on this route except 
the one south of the Mackinaw river. The road over 
this hill is the best traveled. All dirt and clay road after 
leaving Pekin hill. 

DELAVAN TO PEKIN. (20.3 MILES.) 

From Tazewell house go north passing bank buildings 
on left and school on right, and keep straight ahead 
north 2 y 2 miles, turn right 1 mile to first road, turn left, 
go north 2 miles, descend steep hill, keep straight ahead 
to end of road, jog right to bridge over Mackinaw river, 
cross bridge, jog left a little with the road, then north 
and northwest up long hill following small telephone 
line 2 miles to Dillon, 8.5 miles from Delavan. Keep 
straight ahead through Dillon, angling a little to north¬ 
east, then north to end of road, make little jog to right, 
then north nearly 4 miles to Big Four railroad, cross 
railroad, (grade and subway crossing) continue north 
1 mile, turn left, follow this road west 2 miles to end, 
make little jog to right to Elm Hill school, turn left 
and keep this road west to railroad, cross railroad, (bad 
crossing, caution) climb short hill, (quite steep) con¬ 
tinue straight ahead from the top down long hill and 
over quite heavy sand to Pekin, coming in on Court 
street. Continue straight ahead to court house. The 
long hill south of Dillon and the short one west of Elm 
Hill school just after crossing railroad are practically 
the only hills you have to climb. 


54 


DELAVAN TO PEORIA. (24 MILES.) 

Route is the same as from Delavan to Pekin (just de¬ 
scribed) until you come to road 1 mile north of the Big 
Four railroad where there is a grade and subway cross¬ 
ing. At this point instead of turning to left, keep straight 
ahead 4 miles to Groveland, follow telephone line 5 miles 
to E. Peoria. Be careful to have car under control when 
starting down E. Peoria hill. At bottom of hill, which 
is Springfield street, East Peoria, turn left and keep 
straight ahead to street car line, follow car line on 
paved street, (W. Washington), to bridge over Illinois 
river, cross bridge, keep straight ahead 2 blocks to end 
of street, turn right and follow S. Adams street to court 
house. No hills to speak of to climb except the long hill 
entering Dillon after crossing Mackinaw river. Two 
steep hills to descend, the one south of Mackinaw river 
and the E. Peoria hill. All dirt and clay road until near 
Peoria. 

PEORIA TO DELAVAN via GROVELAND. 

(24 MILES.) 

Leave court house on right, follow S. Adams street 
south about 5 blocks to Bridge street, turn left to bridge 
over Illinois river, cross bridge, follow car line on paved 
street, (W. Washington) to First Nat. Bank of E. Peoria 
on right. Continue straight ahead over small bridge to 
Springfield street on right, turn right, climb E. Peoria 
hill, (very steep rise at bottom, gradual after first rise), 
follow telephone poles, keep straight ahead south where 
one line turns off to left about 3 miles from E. Peoria. 
Keep on south through Groveland, cross Sante Fe tracks 
below Groveland, and continue south to Big Four rail¬ 
road, (grade and subway crossing.) From this point 


55 


to Delavan the route is the same as the route described 
from Pekin to Delavan. Dirt and clay road after leav¬ 
ing E. Peoria bluffs. For route from Peoria to Dela¬ 
van via Pekin, see Peoria to Pekin, Pekin to Delavan. 

PEORIA TO OTTAWA via WASHINGTON, 

EUREKA, EL PASO, GRIDLEY and STREA- 
TOR; PEORIA TO PONTIAC, LEX¬ 
INGTON AND DWIGHT. 

From court house in Peoria go south on S. Adams 
street past Hotel Fey on left to Bridge street, turn left, 
cross bridge, follow car line on paved street to East Pe¬ 
oria. Pass First Nat. Bank of E. Peoria on right and 
follow Washington street east, cross bridge and railroad, 
pass Springfield street, which is the E. Peoria hill, 
cross interurban, follow gravel road and heavy 4 arm 
telephone line 9 y 2 miles to Washington. The hill 3 
miles or so out of E. Peoria is a pretty stiff hill but not 
so bad as the E. Peoria hill. Gravel road all the way to 
Washington. On entering Washington go under one 
railroad, cross another, jog around small park and follow 
paved street east to end, jog left a few rods, then con¬ 
tinue due east. Gravel road for 2^4 miles and crushed 
stone road for 1 mile. About 5 miles from Washington 
where 4 arm telephone line turns north, go north 1 mile 
to Cruger, turn and go east about 2 miles to Eureka, 
17E2 miles from E. Peoria. At business street turn left 
and go north across railroad and over hill to first road, 
turn right, go east about 2 miles to end of road, jog 
south about mile to first road, turn left and keep due 
east, cross T. P. & W. Ry., keep on east, passing Secor 
on left to El Paso, practically 32 miles from E. Peoria. 
It is hilly, (not bad) through Eureka and some hilly 


56 


where you cross Panther creek between Secor and El 
Paso. Roads on north and south sides of T. P. & W. Ry., 
between Secor and El Paso are about the same as to 
hills but the south road is ordinarily the most traveled. 
At west edge of El Paso cross T. P. & W., turn right, 
follow through the main street of El Paso, (some pave¬ 
ment), cross Illinois Central railroad, after passing ele¬ 
vator and green houses turn right, cross T. P. & P rail¬ 
road, turn left and follow this road east, practically 
level, 7 miles to Gridley. This is the junction with the 
road which I recommend as the best road between 
Bloomington and Streator. (See route Bloomington to 
Ottawa. For route El Paso to Bloomington, see La 
Salle to Bloomington.) For Chenoa keep straight ahead, 
east, along south side of T. P. & W. 8 miles to Chenoa. 
(For route Chenoa to Pontiac and Dwight see Bloom¬ 
ington to Dwight.) All dirt road after leaving gravel 
and rock road about y/2 miles east of Washington. No 
bad hills after climbing the hill out of E. Peoria. For 
Lexington turn south at first road after passing Mead¬ 
ows 4 miles east of Gridley. Gravel near Lexington. 

OTTAWA TO PEORIA via STREATOR, GRIDLEY, 
EL PASO, EUREKA and WASHINGTON. 

(78 MILES.) 

Leaving court house in Ottawa on your left, go south 
on La Salle street to bridge over Illinois river, cross 
bridge, turn left up hill, cross street car line part way 
up hill, go east two blocks, turn right and keep this road 
due south. Quite steep hill to climb at Covel creek, 
about 5 miles from Ottawa. Keep this main road due 
south, passing through west edge of Grand Ridge, to 
Streator, coming in past fair grounds on left and straight 


57 


ahead on N. Bloomington street to Plumb House on 
right. Continue south from hotel on North Bloomington 
street to second street (Bridge street, school building), 
turn right and go down hill, cross Vermillion river, fol¬ 
low Bridge street to end of pavement, turn left and 
right (or continue on Bridge street to vacant commons 
and angle to left) to main north and south road, turn left 
and go south i mile to end of road, turn right and go 
west about miles, turn left over small iron bridge 
and go south 5 miles to Ancona, keep straight through 
Ancona, cross railroad tracks, keep to left and straight 
ahead south 12 miles (two little jogs to left the width of 
road) to Illinois Central railroad 1 mile west of Flana¬ 
gan, cross railroad, keep straight ahead south ten miles 
to T. P. & W. railroad, one half mile east of Gridley, 
cross railroad, turn right at first road and go west 8 miles 
to El Paso passing through south edge of Gridley. Enter¬ 
ing El Paso, cross T. P. & W. railroad after passing 
grove of trees on right, turn left, cross Illinois Central 
railroad, proceed on same street to west side of town, 
turn left over T. P. & W. railroad and follow T. P. & W. 
railroad west past Secor on right to railroad crossing, 
cross railroad, continue west to end of road, turn right 
and go north to first road, turn left and go west to north 
edge of Eureka, turn left and go south to business cen¬ 
ter. Follow heavy telephone line west 2 miles to Cruger, 
south to main road and west along same telephone line 
to Washington. On entering Washington jog left to 
paved street, turn right and go west to square, jog 
around square, cross one railroad and go under another 
and continue along heavy telephone line, gravel road, 9 
miles to East Peoria. Keep straight ahead through East 
Peoria on W. Washington street to street car line, follow 
car line to bridge over Illinois river, cross bridge, go 


58 


straight ahead two blocks to S. Adams street, turn right 
to court house. Gravel road from Ottawa to I mile south 
of Streator except i mile through Grand Ridge, and 
stone and gravel from 3 miles east of Washington to E. 
Peoria. Balance of road dirt. Some hilly between El 
Paso and Secor and around Eureka. Covel creek hill 
south of Ottawa is the hardest hill to climb. Hill east of 
E. Peoria is the steepest descent. 

DWIGHT, PONTIAC and CHENOA TO PEORIA. 

For route from Dwight and Pontiac to Chenoa see 
route Dwight to Bloomington. Just after crossing 
C. & A. railroad at Chenoa, instead of turning to left to 
parallel the track, keep on due west 8 miles to Gridley 
where you strike the Ottawa-Peoria route just de¬ 
scribed. Distance Chenoa to Peoria by this route 47 
miles. 

BLOOMINGTON TO SPRINGFIELD via LIN¬ 
COLN. (79 MILES.) 

The distance from Bloomington to Springfield by way 
of C. & A. railroad is 60 miles, the railroad running 
almost due southwest, the shortest route by road, follow¬ 
ing the C. & A. railroad as near as you can, is 79 miles. 
This difference is due to the fact that you get but little 
angling road, the most of the time going south and west, 
with right angle turns. It is only 11 miles further to 
go by way of Decatur and you have the advantage, in 
wet weather, of some 15 miles of hard roads and paved 
streets. (For route via Decatur see Bloomington to De¬ 
catur. Decatur to Springfield.) The route via Lincoln 
along the C. & A. railroad is as follows: From court 
house in Bloomington go west 3 blocks to Lee street, 


59 


Bloomington to Springfield, Decatur and Delevan. 



60 



























































turn left, go south, cross railroads and climb hill, turn 
right on Wood street, at top of hill. Follow Wood street 
west to west side of Miller Park, turn left and go south 
i mile to Six Points, turn right and follow four arm 
telephone line as far as you can, which takes you through 
Shirley and to the point where telephone line enters the 
C. & A. right of way. From this point keep straight 
ahead south /\]/ 2 miles to end of road, turn right and go 
west 4 miles to railroad south of McLean, i mile of 
stone road. You pick up the four arm telephone line 
again a short way before reaching railroad. Follow tele¬ 
phone line across railroad and west and south past 
Atlanta on your right. Continue to follow telephone 
line about 5 miles until you come to gravel road where 
road forks and one telephone line leads off to right to 
Lawndale. Turn left on gravel road with telephone 
line and go south 1 mile to where the telephone line 
turns west to railroad. From this point you may follow 
the four arm telephone line all the way to Lincoln and 
south through west side of Lincoln to the paved street 
in front of the Institute. * If you take this route be care¬ 
ful not to get mixed up with another four arm telephone 
line running east and west through Lincoln. Or, from the 
point where telephone line turns west off gravel road 
continue south on gravel road (gravel soon ends) pass 
Straight Row school, go south to first road on your right, 
turn right and go west 2 miles to second road on your 
left, turn left and go south to first road, turn right and go 
west. Road turns south at C. & A. right of way. Follow 
this road past coal mine to I. C. railroad, cross railroad 
and follow car line on paved street, Kickapoo street, to 
court house, turn right, cross C. & A. railroad at depot, 
turn left follow paved street to gas house, then west on 
dirt road to four arm telephone line, turn left to paved 


61 


road in front of Institute. It is 40 miles from Blooming¬ 
ton to Lincoln. Follow four arm telephone line from the 
Institute as it zig-zags south and west to a point about 12 
miles from Lincoln where the telephone line turns west. 
There are two small telephone lines continuing south. 
Follow the small lines south 3 miles to Elkhart. Cross 
C. & A. railroad 1 block north of depot, turn right 1 
block, turn left and go east 2 blocks to end of street, turn 
right and follow this street to end, swing south and fol¬ 
low this road 5miles to end, turn right mile to first 
road, turn left and go south 3 miles, turn right and go 
west miles to end of road, turn left and go south past 
cemetery and church to end of road, make little jog to 
right then south again 1 mile to Spalding, cross railroad 
continue south about miles to church on left (River¬ 
ton) turn right to end of street, turn left, cross Wabash 
railroad, continue to interurban, turn right one block, 
cross interurban at power house, follow this road across 
Sangamon river and along dyke road to top of hill, con¬ 
tinue west about 4 miles to State fair grounds, (use 
caution in crossing interurbans and railroads, particu¬ 
larly the C. & A. yard tracks) go west along fair grounds 
to N. Eighth street, turn left and go south to E. North 
Grand avenue, (car line and water trough) turn right 
1 block to N. Seventh street, turn left, follow N. Seventh 
street to railroad, cross railroad, go 2 blocks, turn right 
1 block to court house, Springfield. This route avoids 
the bad sand hill at Sangamon river by going via 
Elkhart. 


62 


SPRINGFIELD TO BLOOMINGTON via LIN¬ 
COLN. (79 MILES.) 

This is an all dirt road with the exception of a few 
miles of cinders and gravel and i mile of stone. It is 
only ii miles further by way of Decatur and in wet 
weather you have the advantage of about 15 miles of 
hard roads and paved streets but will have a steep hill 
north of Decatur. (For this route see Springfield to 
Decatur. Decatur to Bloomington.) The Lincoln route 
is as follows: From the court house in Springfield go 
east on Washington street 1 block, turn left on N. 
Seventh street and follow N. Seventh street to end, turn 
right 1 block, turn left and follow N. Eighth street to 
State fair grounds, turn right, cross C. & A. yard tracks, 
(caution) continue straight ahead east about 4 miles to 
top of hill, descend hill and follow dyke road acros' 
Sangamon river to power house at Riverton, cross inter 
urban, turn right 1 block, turn left and go north across? 
Wabash railroad to top of hill, turn right with telephone 
wires and go east to church, turn left and go north to 
Spalding, cross railroad, continue north to end of road, 
make little jog to right to first road, turn left, go north, 
pass church and cemetery, turn right and go east 2j4 
miles to end of road, turn left and go north 3 miles to 
end of road, turn right l /[ mile to first road, turn left 
and go north $ l / 2 miles to Elkhart. Cross C. & A. rail¬ 
road 1 block north of depot and follow small telephone 
lines north 3 miles to four arm telephone line, continue 
along four arm telephone line about 11 miles to end of 
paved street in front of the Institute at edge of Lincoln. 
From this point you may continue through west side 
of Lincoln along four arm telephone line (being careful 
not to get mixed up with another four arm line running 

63 


-5 


east and west through Lincoln) until you come to a 
gravel road i mile east of where you cross C. & A. rail¬ 
road about 5 miles from Lincoln. (Or, after leaving 
paved road in front of Institute and crossing car track, 
turn right and proceed to business streets of Lincoln. 
Cross C. & A. railroad at north side of depot, go 2 blocks, 
turn left at Ivickapoo street, follow car line north across 
I. C. railroad, pass coal mine, turn right when road turns 
and go east to second road, turn left and go north to 
first road, turn right and go east 2 miles, turn left and go 
north past Straight Row school house to four arm tele¬ 
phone line 1 mile east of C. & A. railroad.) From this 
point go north along telephone line on gravel road 1 mile 
to forks where one road leads to left to Lawndale, turn 
right and follow four arm telephone line east a few 
rods, then north across Kickapoo creek and all the way 
to the railroad at south edge of McLean passing 1 mile 
south and 1 mile east of Atlanta. From railroad cross¬ 
ing at McLean go east along stone road, leaving tele¬ 
phone line a short distance from railroad, and continue 
east 4 miles to narrow road on left (farm houses to 
right) turn left and go north 4 y 2 miles to C. & A. right 
of way where you again pick up the four arm telephone 
line. Follow four arm telephone line through Shirley 
and all the way to Six Points, 1 mile south of Bloom¬ 
ington. Turn left at Six Points and go north to Wood 
street, north side of Miller Park, turn right and go east 
to Lee street (grocery store on corner) turn left, cross 
railroads, continue to street car line, cross car line, go 
1 block, turn right and go east 3 blocks to court house. 


64 


BLOOMINGTON TO DECATUR—46^ MILES. 

Leave court house in Bloomington on right and go 
south on South Main street and follow telephone line 
south (taking jogs in road to left) to bridge over Kick- 
apoo Creek about 11 miles from Bloomington, cross 
bridge, turn left up hill, cross interurban, turn right and 
follow interurban to business street of Heyworth, turn 
left, cross I. C. railroad at depot go east to end of street 
turn right and go south 1 mile to e/id of road, turn 
left to first road, turn right and follow this road south 
(some winding) about 4^/2 miles to end of road, jog 
right to first road, turn left and go south through east 
edge of Wapella to end of road, jog left to first road, 
turn right and go south 2 miles to end of road, turn 
right, cross railroad and interurban, turn left at first 
road and go south 2]/ 2 miles to court house in Clinton 
24.2 miles from Bloomington. From east side of court 
house in Clinton go east 2 blocks to church, turn right 
and go south, follow interurban on your right about 
2 miles, cross interurban, turn left at first road and 
go south taking care in descending Salt Creek hill. 
Continue south 5 miles to end of road, turn left to 
first road, turn right and follow interurban to and 
through Maroa and straight ahead 13*4 miles to De¬ 
catur, coming into Decatur on N. Water street, which 
you follow straight ahead to court house. Dirt road 
from 2 miles south of Bloomington to within 6 miles 
of Decatur. 

DECATUR TO BLOOMINGTON—46^4 MILES. 

From Decatur go north on N. Water street to end 
of pavement and straight ahead to Maroa 13 y 2 miles 
from Decatur. Follow interurban through Maroa and 


65 


i mile north, turn left ^4 mile to first road, turn right 
and go north 5 miles to end of road, (steep hill to climb 
at Salt Creek), turn right, cross interurban, turn left 
and follow interurban about 2 miles to court house, 
Clinton, 22.3 miles from Decatur. From north side 
of court house go north 2J/2 miles to end of road, turn 
right, cross interurban and railroad, turn left and go 
north about 2 miles to end of road, jog left to first 
road, turn right and go north through east side of Wa- 
pella to end of road, jog right to first road, turn left 
and go north 5 miles (road winds some) turn left J4 
mile to first road, turn right and go north to Hey- 
worth. Cross I. C. railroad at south side of depot in 
FLeyworth, turn right at first street and go north to 
end of road, cross interurban and descend hill, turn 
right and cross bridge and follow telephone line north 
11 miles to Bloomington. Dirt road except about 6 
miles from Decatur and 2 miles from Bloomington. 
Continue straight ahead on S. Main street to court 
house. All hills average ones except the one at Salt 
Creek. 

SPRINGFIELD TO DECATUR—43 MILES. 

From court house in Springfield go east on Washing¬ 
ton street 1 block, turn left at N. Seventh street, and 
go north to end of street, turn right 1 block to N. 
Eighth street, turn left and follow N. Eighth street to 
State Fair grounds, turn right and go east along south 
side of State Fair grounds and straight ahead across 
railroad yards (caution) and continue east about 4 
miles to top of hill, go down hill and follow dyke road 
to left, cross Sangamon river to power house at River¬ 
ton. Cross interurban at power house, ‘turn right 1 
block, turn left and go north, cross Wabash railroad 


66 


go north to top of hill, turn right with telephone line 
and go east to church, turn left and go north about Y 
mile to road on right (io miles from Springfield), turn 
right and go east 4 miles to end of road, turn right 
and go south mile to Dawson, turn left at school 
and go to east edge of town, turn right, cross Wabash 
railroad, turn left and run between R. R. and interurban 
about 10 miles, to crossing west of Illiopolis, cross Wa¬ 
bash railroad, turn right and follow railroad to bank 
in Illiopolis, turn left and go north J 4 mile to first road, 
turn right and go east nearly 4 miles, turn right and 
go south to Niantic, turn left on business street just 
before reaching railroad, go east through business street 
to coal shaft, turn right, cross railroad, go south 
Yz mile to end of road, turn left and go east with tele¬ 
phone line YA miles to cemetery on your right, turn 
right a few rods to end of road, turn left and follow 
gravel road and heavy telephone line 7 miles to De¬ 
catur (hilly toward end) coming in on W. Main street, 
follow W. Main street straight ahead to business sec¬ 
tion passing Milliken University buildings on your left. 
Continue to street car waiting room in street, go 1 
block east to N. Water street which you follow north 
for Bloomington. Hilly about Riverton and just west 
of Decatur. Gravel, cinders and clay. 

DECATUR TO SPRINGFIELD—43 MILES. 

From street car waiting room in circle by St. Nicho¬ 
las hotel go west on W. Main street to end of pave- 
bent (Milliken University buildings on right) continue 
west from end of pavement on gravel road (hilly) 
along heavy telephone line 7 miles to end of road, ;,og 
right a few rods to cemetery on your left, turn left 


67 


and go west along telephone line 4^ miles, turn right 
and go north F2 mile to railroad, cross railroad at coal 
shaft, turn left, go west through business street of 
Niantic to west side of town, turn right and go north 
J4 mile to first road, turn left and go west nearly 4 
miles, turn left ^4 mile to bank in Illiopolis, turn right 
and go west to railroad crossing, cross railroad and go 
west between railroad and interurban about 10 miles 
to east edge of Dawson, turn right, cross railroad, turn 
left and go west to west side of town, turn right and 
go north mile, turn left and go west 4 miles to end 
of road, turn left and go south to church, turn right 
and follow telephone line to end of street, turn left and 
go down hill, cross Wabash railroad (Riverton) con¬ 
tinue straight ahead to interurban, turn right 1 block, 
cross interurban and continue along road to right 
across Sangamon river and along dyke road to top 
of hill, keep on west about 4 miles to State Fair grounds 
(caution in crossing railroads and interurban partic¬ 
ularly C. & A. yard tracks), follow State Fair grounds 
west to N. Eighth street, turn left and go south to 
E. North Grand avenue (car track and water 
trough) turn right 1 block to N. Seventh street, turn 
left and follow N. Seventh street to I. C. railroad, cross 
railroad, go 2 blocks ahead, turn right 1 block to court 
house. Road gravel, cinders and clay. Hilly out of 
Decatur and around Riverton; balance of road nearly 
level. 

BLOOMINGTON TO DELAVAN—34.5 MILES. 

From court house go south on S. Main street cross 
railroads, continue up hill to Wood street (brick pave¬ 
ment), turn right and go west to west side of Miller 
Park. Look out for interurban crossing 2 blocks west 


68 


of Main street. (Or from north side of court house 
go west 3 blocks to Lee street, turn left follow Lee 
street south to Wood street at top of hill, turn right 
to west side of Miller Park.) Go south on west side of 
Miller Park about i mile to Six Points, turn right and 
follow heavy telephone line to C. & A. railroad about 
5 miles from court house. Leave telephone line, cross 
C. & A. railroad and keep due west 19 miles to Jackson¬ 
ville branch of C. & A. R. R. Cross railroad, turn left 
and follow angling road about .3 of a mile to Hopedale, 
24.3 miles from Bloomington. (You will pass Stan¬ 
ford and Minier on your right respectively 9.4 and 15.4 
miles from where you cross C. & A. railroad 5 miles 
from Bloomington.) Keep straight ahead through 
Hopedale, jog west and south to railroad, following 
telephone line, cross railroad, keep south 1 mile to end 
of road, west 1 mile, south 1 mile to end of road, west 
4.6 miles then jog south and west on main traveled 
road 1.4 miles to Delavan. At Tazewell Bank turn left 
2 blocks to Tazewell House, 34.5 miles. Road all dirt, 
rolling, but practically 110 hills after the Six Points hills 
near Bloomington. 

DELAVAN TO BLOOMINGTON—34.5 MILES. 

Leave Tazewell house on left, go north 2 blocks, 
(Tazewell bank on left), turn right cross railroad over 
bridge, turn left at end of street, jog north and east 
to crossroad just south of railroad, 1.4 miles from 
starting point. From this point go east along tele¬ 
phone line 4.6 miles, north 1 mile, east 1 mile, north 
to railroad, cross railroad, turn right at next road, then 
angle to left to Hopedale, 9.8 miles from Delavan. 
Keep straight ahead through Hopedale, pass water 


69 


Elgin to Harvard. Harvard to Somonauk and Earlville. 


H*.l?TLy\ND 


WOODSToCK 



C^KcvillE 


70 


■ < »•*(.< StoW« H»v*t 
























tower on right, turn right at end of road, go east a 
few rods to railroad. Cross railroad. From this point 
go due east on same road 19 miles (passing Minier on 
left 5.3 miles from Hopedale and Stanford 5 miles fur¬ 
ther on) until you come to the Springfield branch of 
C. & A. railroad. Cross railroad, continue straight 
ahead, following 4 arm telephone line to Six Points, 
swing left and go north to asphalt pavement on west 
side of Miller Park, turn right on Wood street at north 
side of Miller Park, go east, cross interurban track, go 
two blocks further, turn left and follow street car line 
on S. Main steet to court house. Dirt road, no hills 
until close to Bloomington. 

OTTAWA TO SYCAMORE—52.4 MILES. 

Since this diagram was drawn I have changed the 
routing between Hinkley and Cortland and between 
Genoa and Marengo. From Ottawa to Somonauk the 
route is the same as the route from Ottawa to Aurora 
via Somonauk. See this route for description to So¬ 
monauk. Entering Somonauk pass Catholic church 
on left and go north 3 blocks to bank on left, turn right 
(hotel and drinking fountain on left), go east 1 block, 
turn left, cross railroad and go north about .3 mile to 
first country road, turn right and follow this road east 
then northeast keeping to left at the forks until the 
road turns north. Go straight ahead north to railroad 
just southwest of Hinkley (g l / 2 miles from Somonauk) 
cross railroad and go a few rods to cross road. (If 
roads are muddy turn right and go east into Hinkley 
( y 2 mile) turn left at bank, go north 1 mile, then west 
1 mile to first road, then north about 4 miles to end 
of road, Pierce Town Hall on your right.) If roads 


71 


are dry keep straight ahead over crossroad west of 
Hinkley, follow this road which winds to left, cross stone 
bridge and a short way further turn right and follow 
dirt road i mile to gravel road and continue straight 
ahead north on gravel road to end of road. Pierce Town 
Hall looking like a school house, on your right. At 
Pierce Town Hall turn left and go west I mile, to sec¬ 
ond road on your right, turn right, short stretch of 
sand after turning, go north on this road 5 miles to 
Cortland. (The road you cross about 1 mile south of 
Cortland is the DeKalb-Chicago road.) Keep straight 
ahead through Cortland 3J4 miles to Sycamore enter¬ 
ing on Somonauk street, follow Somonauk street to 
end at State street. Gravel road all the way from So¬ 
monauk except short stretches of dirt. The mile of 
road west from Pierce Town Hall is low and not very 
good. Three miles of rather hilly road, not bad, south 
of Cortland. 

SYCAMORE TO MARENGO, HARVARD AND 
GENEVA LAKE. 

From east side of square in Sycamore go north to 
railroad, cross railroad and follow main gravel road, 
interurban and telephone lines about 7 miles to Ill. Cen¬ 
tral railroad, turn left and follow railroad to depot, 
cross railroad and keep straight ahead passing ceme¬ 
tery on right until even with the business buildings of Ge¬ 
noa Yi block to your left, turn right and go east 
2^4 miles to school, turn left, cross railroad (milk sta¬ 
tion) and go north about 6 miles to end of road, turn 
right, go -east 1 mile to first road, turn left go north, 
pass church, school and creamery, turn right at end 
of road (interurban grade at left) go east 1 mile to first 


72 


road, turn left, go north to # forks, follow angling road 
2.]/ 2 miles to Marengo. Some sand before reaching 
place where road turns north up the long hill to Ma¬ 
rengo. Continue straight through Marengo and north 
6*4 miles to sign board on left, turn left, pass South 
Dillon school, turn right at end of road and follow 
this road straight ahead 5 miles to Harvard. Entering 
Harvard continue to C. & N. W. tracks (caution) cross 
tracks and straight ahead (fearful cross-walks) con¬ 
tinue to end of street where interurban comes in from 
left. Continue along interurban to Walworth, Wis. 
crossing Wisconsin-Illinois line at Big Foot cemetery, 
Just before reaching Walworth park turn right. (Post 
Office on corner), go east 1 mile, turn left go north 
(bad railroad crossing). Cross railroad and straight 
ahead down long hill to interurban, follow interurban 
1 y 2 miles to Fontana, Geneva Lake y 2 mile ahead. To 
get to the lake either follow interurban looking out 
for sudden left turn up a little hill, or follow switch 
track along gravel bank, pass road on left which leads 
to Delavan, and continue to shore of lake, swinging 
right to Reed’s Park. For Glenwood Springs follow 
beach to first road. For Lake Geneva City continue up 
steep hill back of Glenwood Springs and follow this 
road 11 miles up and down hill keeping straight ahead 
east until you come to a fork with signboard to Zenda, 
keep to left, then straight ahead about 4 miles to Lake 
Geneva. Road from Sycamore is good gravel nearly 
all the way. 

GENOA TO ROCKFORD—2714 MILES. 

This road has about 16 miles of good gravel, 9 miles 
dirt road and 2^4 miles mixed gravel, sand and dirt. 
Go west on business street of Genoa, leaving Eureka 


73 


hotel on left, continue west, to I. C. railroad (caution 
for short turn), go under railroad, follow railroad, pass 
road on left, continue 1.3 miles to end of road, turn 
right .6 mile to first road, turn left, follow this road 
to DeKalb branch C. & N. W. railroad, cross railroad, 
keep straight ahead, pass cross road, pass school or 
church on right (Colvin Park, 4.6 miles from Genoa) 
keep straight ahead, pass Ira J. Mix dairy on left, pass 
church on right, continue straight ahead, pass church 
and school on right at cross road, continue 1.8 mile 
to end of road, turn right and follow angling road (usu¬ 
ally bad), about miles to cross road, turn left, go 



west 1 mile to cross road, turn right, go north to Irene, 
straight ahead, cross I. C. railroad, pass school on right, 
continue north about 1 mile to cross road angling 
northwest, turn left and follow this angling road (poor 
road for about 2^/2 miles, quite steep descents), pass 
school at cross road, continue straight ahead on an¬ 
gling road to Cherry Valley. Entering Cherry Valley 
continue to large wood church, turn right, continue to 
interurban, turn left, State bank on right, follow inter- 
urban west, cross bridge over Kishwaukee river, climb 


74 


hill, cross interurban, follow interurban as far as you 
can then straight ahead to end of road, turn left and 
straight ahead (some sand) to Rockford, entering on 
Charles street. Follow Charles street to E. State 
street, turn left and follow E. State street to river, 
cross bridge and straight ahead 2 blocks to N. Main 
street. 

ROCKFORD TO GENOA AND SYCAMORE. 

This is the first section of a route from Rockford 
to Bloomington measuring 143 miles. It is 2 yy 2 miles 
to Genoa. Road poor in spots but has about 16 miles 
of good gravel. Two quite ugly hills (bad road bed) 
between Cherry Valley and Irene and some poor dirt 
road between Irene and Genoa. From corner of N. 
Main and E. State streets in Rockford, go east, cross 
river, follow E. State 6 blocks to Charles street, turn 
right and follow Charles street to city limits, then 
straight ahead on south east angling road (about 2 
miles) to forks, keep to right, follow this road east 
until interurban comes in from right and follow inter¬ 
urban to Cherry Valley. Entering Cherry Valley cross 
interurban, descend hill, cross Kishwaukee river, fol¬ 
low interurban past interurban station to State bank 
on left (Culver’s general store on right), turn right, 
go south pass church on left, continue to church on 
right, turn left and follow gravel road south east. First 
3F2 miles in good then you have about 2]/ 2 miles poor 
road, dirt, sand and fresh gravel and two quite bad hills. 
Follow this angling road, pass school on left, climb long 
hill to cross road, turn right and go south about 1 mile 
to Irene, cross railroad, keep straight ahead, through 
town about 1 mile to cross road, turn left, go east to 


75 


cross road (same angling road you took out of Cherry 
Valley), turn right, follow angling road (usually very 
poor) about iy 2 miles to end, turn left and keep 
straight ahead on this road 7 miles to end, passing 
church and school together on left, school on left, 
church on left, Ira J. Mix dairy on right, church on 
left, and crossing railroad (C. & N. W. branch line to 
DeKalb). Road ends 1 mile after crossing railroad. 
Turn right at end of road, go south to first road, turn 
left, pass road on right and continue to I. C. railroad 
(caution for sharp turn), go under railroad, turn right 
and straight ahead to Genoa. To continue to Sycamore 
go east through business portion of Genoa past Eureka 
hotel on right, turn to right 1 block beyond and go south 
to I. C. railroad, cross railroad, go south to end of road, 
turn left along railroad to first road, turn right and 
follow good gravel road (telephone lines and interur- 
ban), to Sycamore, 8 l / 2 miles from Genoa. Continue in 
Sycamore to fountain by court house, turn right 2 
blocks to Somonauk street. For remainder of route to 
Bloomington see Sycamore to Ottawa, Ottawa to 
Bloomington. 

GENEVA LAKE, WIS, TO BLOOMINGTON, ILL. 

First section.—Geneva Lake to Sycamore. 

Second section.—Sycamore to Ottawa. 

Third section.—Ottawa to Bloomington. 

GENEVA LAKE, WIS, AND HARVARD, ILL. TO 
SYCAMORE. 

Starting from Glenwood Springs at the west end of 
Geneva Lake, follow beach to electric line, follow elec¬ 
tric line through Fontana and as far as you can beyond, 


70 


then go south up long hill (bad railroad crossing just 
beyond top of hill) cross railroad, go to first road, 
turn right and go west to Walworth, turn left at elec¬ 
tric line and follow it to Harvard. Entering Harvard, 
go through business street (slow for bad crossing and 
railroad tracks), cross tracks and continue about 3 
blocks to water trough, keep to left and follow this 
road south 5 miles to cemetery on right, turn left, go 
east Yi mile, turn right and go straight ahead 6^4 miles 
to Marengo and straight ahead through Marengo 
crossing Chicago-Rockford road in town. Continue 
south from Marengo until road turns southwest, con¬ 
tinue southwest to old creamery (interurban grade), 
then due south with interurban grade, turn right when 
it does and go west to first road, turn left, go south, 
passing creamery school and church, continue to end 
of road (about J4 mile) turn right and go west 1 mile 
to first road, turn left and go south about 6 miles to 
railroad, cross railroad, continue to first road, school 
on right, turn right and go west 2 j 4 miles to Genoa. 
Entering Genoa continue until within half block of 
business buildings (house on southeast corner has 
porch with fluted columns), turn left, go south to Illi¬ 
nois Central railroad, cross railroad, turn left, (end of 
road) follow railroad about 1 mile to first road, turn 
right and follow this gravel road, interurban and tele¬ 
phone lines 7 miles to Sycamore. Entering Sycamore, 
cross railroad at depot, continue to south side of square, 
turn right and go west 2 blocks to Somonauk street. 
Distance between Harvard and Somonauk, 36.1 miles. 
Road nearly all good gravel. A little sand and dirt 
between Marengo and Genoa. Hilly but not bad. 


77 


SYCAMORE TO OTTAWA—52.4 MILES. 

Since this diagram was drawn I have changed the 
route between Cortland and Hinckley for one I think 
is better. Leaving Sycamore, go south on Somonauk 
street and straight ahead 3H2 miles to Cortland (De- 
Kalb over to right about 4 miles). Keep straight ahead 
through Cortland and go 5 miles (quite hilly) to end 
of road, a little sandy just at the end. Turn left, go 
east 1 mile to Pierce Town Hall, turn right and go 
south 4 miles, passing church and schools, to where 
gravel road turns east. (If roads are wet, turn left 
and go east 1 mile and south 1 mile to bank in Hinckley 
then west ^2 mile to cross road.) If roads are dry 
continue ahead on dirt road 1 mile, turn left and follow 
angling road to cross road y 2 mile west of Hinckley. 
Go south to railroad, cross railroad and keep straight 
ahead 9^2 miles to Somonauk, going south until road 
itself swings southwest and west. Gravel road except 
for short stretches of dirt. For route from Somonauk 
to Ottawa see Aurora to Ottawa via Somonauk. 

AURORA TO ELGIN. 

Take Lake street out of Aurora. You have the 
electric line for your guide and the Fox river to your 
right. Follow car line through Batavia and on to Ge¬ 
neva. Cross the railroad at Geneva and continue north, 
passing court house and school on your left, when 
you turn to right for two blocks, then to left straight 
ahead to St. Charles. (If you prefer you may cross 
the river at Geneva and go to St. Charles on the east 
side.) Continuing to St. Charles you come to a large 
house on your left with long stone wall in front. Con¬ 
tinue straight ahead to car tracks in business street- 


78 


You may continue to Elgin on west side of river as 
hereafter described, or turn right at car track, cross 
the bridge and continue east up the hill and across 
the railroad for about a mile to first road to left. Turn 
to left and keep straight ahead. This road takes you 
past the Dunham Stock Farm, and brings you into El¬ 
gin on St. Charles street, which you follow to Villa 
street. Follow street car tracks to square or continue 
on Villa street some distance further, then to left, down 
the hill to business district. In going the east route 
from St. Charles to Elgin be cautious in approaching 
the railroad tracks and the “third-rail” track of the 
Chicago-Elgin Electric Railway. 

To go from St. Charles to Elgin on the west side of 
the river keep straight ahead across street car track 
in St. Charles, turn left at blacksmith shop, to right 
at next corner, to left to railroad viaduct and turn to 
right under railroad. Continue north about 4 miles 
until road turns east in river bottom. Turn left at first 
road, go north short distance to railroad, cross railroad, 
continue north about 3*4 miles to fork, keep to right 
and continue to Elgin, coming in on South street. Fol¬ 
low South street to depot, turn left one block, to right 
under railroad and straight ahead across car tracks 
on State street and cross bridge over river to Chicago 
street. 

ELGIN TO AURORA (East Side Route). 

Follow Villa street to St. Charles street, turn to 
right into St. Charles street. Continue straight ahead 
on St. Charles street, and straight ahead from end of 
street. Use caution at railroad and interurban cross¬ 
ings. You pass Dunham Stock Farm on your right 
and turn to right at end of road, about two miles east 

79 


—6 


of St. Charles. Continue to St. Charles, cross the 
bridge and continue west two blocks, and turn to left 
following the west bank of Fox river to business street 
of Geneva. Turn to right two blocks, then to left and 
continue along electric line to Aurora. Follow Lake 
street in Aurora to Downer Place, turn to left. New 
Bishop hotel is on your right, and Anderson’s garage 
on the left. 

ELGIN TO AURORA (West Side Route 21 miles). 

This route is shorter than the east side route, but is 
more hilly between Elgin and St. Charles. Go west 
on Chicago street, cross bridge and street car tracks, 
go under railroad, turn left one block to depot, turn 
right on South street and follow South about ij 4 miles 
to road on left, turn left, go south about 3miles to 
railroad, cross railroad, go to first road, turn right 
and follow this road over the hills, 4 miles to St. 
Charles. Entering St. Charles, go under railroad, turn 
left then right, left to blacksmith shop, then right to 
car line. Cross car line and follow this road south on 
west side river to Geneva. Turn right 2 blocks at 
Geneva, then left and follow electric line through Ba¬ 
tavia to Aurora coming in on Lake street. Keep 
straight ahead on Lake street to Downer Place, turn 
left to garage and hotel. 

ELGIN TO ALGONQUIN, WOODSTOCK AND 
HARVARD. 

There are three ways to go from Elgin to Algonquin. 
The east side routes leave Elgin on Dundee avenue, 
and follow car line north on Dundee avenue, until car 
line turns off to left. Continue north to first road on 


SO 


left. Here you may continue straight ahead north 
about 6 miles to cobble stone house on right, turn left 
on angling road and straight ahead 2^4 miles to Mor¬ 
ton House, Algonquin, or turn left and follow road to 
car line and to right with car line to Dundee, turn 
left toward bridge but turn right without crossing and 
follow river, passing Carpentersville bridge on left and 
creamery on right . Continue to railroad, cross rail¬ 
road and keep staight ahead to north edge of town, 
turn right one block, then left and follow winding road 
which crosses railroad to left and again to right and 
continues up a long hill to junction with the other 
road. Turn left, descend hill and cross river to Morton 
House, Algonquin. To go the west side route which 
takes you down Perry hill, go west on Chicago street 
in Elgin, cross bridge, turn to right on State street, 
and follow road, keeping to right at the forks at foot 
of hill out of town. Continue straight ahead on this 
road through west edges of Dundee and Carpenters¬ 
ville until you come to the river road above Carpen¬ 
tersville, then follow this road north about 3 miles to 
Perry hill (very steep descent) follow road to railroad, 
cross railroad and straight ahead to Morton House, 
Algonquin. To continue from Algonquin to Wood- 
stock and Harvard, go north leaving Morton House on 
right, continue to railroad (slow to four miles, bad 
turn under railroad) go under railroad, continue about 
1 mile to forks (sign board), turn right go up long 
hill and continue north about 3 miles, (railroad cross¬ 
ing on your right), turn left and go straight ahead 
through town of Crystal Lake to end of road, swing 
left with road, pass 1 road on right, follow along grove 
of evergreen trees to next road, turn right and con¬ 
tinue to Ridgefield station, jog left to first road then 


81 


turn right and follow gravel road to Woodstock, fol¬ 
lowing railroad, but not crossing. Entering Wood- 
stock, jog right and left to square, go to northwest 
corner, go north one block to telephone line, turn left 
and follow telephone line on gravel road 12 miles to 
Harvard. Road angles northwest until within about 
4 miles of Harvard, then runs north and west with 
right angle jogs. (Some dirt road near Harvard. 
Remainder gravel.) 

HARVARD TO ALGONQUIN AND ELGIN. 

From business center go south, cross C. & N. W. 
Ry. tracks (caution) turn left, go east one or two 
blocks to north and south road, turn right, go south 
to first road, turn left, follow telephone line going east 
and south to angling road, then to left on angling road 
along telephone line to Woodstock. From square in 
Woodstock, go south 1 block, then east to railroad, and 
follow railroad southeast then along angling road, 
about 4 miles to sign board, turn left to Ridgefield, 
turn right and straight ahead to town of Crystal Lake 
and southeast through town about 2^4 miles to road 
on right (railroad crossing ahead) turn right and follow 
this road about 4 miles to Algonquin. Slow down 
greatly before turning under railroad just north of 
Algonquin. From Morton House in Algonquin go 
south across bridge and up pretty steep hill, keep to 
right at top of hill then straight ahead about 2 miles 
to cobble stone house, turn right and go south about 
7 miles to Elgin, coming in on Dundee avenue. Fol¬ 
low car tracks up town. (This route avoids Perry hill. 
The street running east and west in front of the Mor¬ 
ton House in Algonquin leads to the east up Phillips 
hill and to the west to Perry hill where the Chicago 
Motor Club’s hill climbing contests are held.) 

82 


HARVARD TO GLENWOOD SPRINGS. 
(GENEVA LAKE.) 

Follow electric line north to Walworth. Turn to 
right just before reaching small park, and go east about 
a mile, turn to left, cross railroad, go down long hill, 
cross electric line and follow electric line to Fontana. 
Just as you cross gravel bank track of electric line at 
Fontana turn to left and follow along base of hill. The 
first road to the left takes you to Lake Delavan, or, 
by branching to right at sign board about two miles 
out, to Williams Bay and Lake Geneva city. To go 
to Geneva Lake (west end) just follow road a few 
rods to lake shore, turning to right at lake shore. Con¬ 
tinue around beach to Glenwood Springs. 

GLENWOOD SPRINGS (GENEVA LAKE) TO 
DELAVAN, WIS.—io MILES. 

Leaving Glenwood Springs hotel go around beach, 
cross electric line, continue to end of road (sharp left 
turn at top of rise), continue to second turn on right, 
turn right (caution for sharp left turn up long wind¬ 
ing hill). From top of hill continue straight ahead 
north bearing left with the road across Delavan Lake 
inlet (Lake Delavan on your left), to first road on left. 
(By keeping straight ahead at this point 2 miles and 
turning* right you have the best road to Elkhorn, io 
miles from Glenwood Springs.) For Delavan, turn 
left at first road after crossing inlet, go west passing 
roads on left leading to Delavan Lake. Continue west 
until main road turns to right into Delevan, cross rail¬ 
road, continue to church on right, turn left on Wal¬ 
worth avenue to business center. 


83 


Rockford to Beloit, Wis., Janesville, Lake Delevan and Lake Geneva. 
Harvard to Lake Geneva, Wis., Lake Delevan and Janesville. 

Lake Geneva, Wis., to Lake Delevan, Janesville, Beloit, Rockford and Harvard* 



84 
















DELAVAN, WIS., TO BELOIT, WIS.—20 MILES. 

Go west on Walworth avenue, (principal business 
street), go clown hill, cross bridge, climb hill and keep 
to left (Institute on your right). Follow this road 
through Darien, straight ahead past Allens Grove 
(hilly) straight ahead through Clinton Junction and 
straight ahead 10 miles (some fine stone road), to 
bridge over creek just east of Beloit. Cross bridge 
and railroad and continue to White avenue, keep to 
right to Prairie avenue, turn left to E. Grand avenue, 
turn right to business center. 

BELOIT, WIS., TO DELAVAN AND GLEN- 
WOOD SPRINGS (LAKE GENEVA). 

Go east on E. Grand avenue nearly to end, turn left 
on Prairie avenue, go north to White avenue, angle 
right on White avenue, cross railroad and bridge over 
creek and straight ahead 10 miles to Clinton Junction, 
straight ahead through Clinton Junction and past Al¬ 
len’s Grove, go down long hill and cross bridge, keep 
to left and straight ahead to Darien, and straight 
through Darien to Institute ahead, turn right and 
straight ahead across bridge and up hill to business 
center of Delavan. Continue through business center 
of Delavan on Walworth avenue to church, turn right, 
cross railroad, go south to end of road, turn left and go 
east, passing roads on right which lead to Delavan 
Lake hotels. Continue east to end of road, turn right, 
cross inlet, straight ahead, keep to right at forks and 
straight ahead to top of steep winding descent (caution 
for sharp turns particularly to right at bottom). From 
bottom of hill go to first road, turn left to lake shore, 
turn right and follow beach to Glenwood Springs Hotel. 


85 


To go from Glenwood Springs to Lake Geneva city 
(n miles) go west from hotel to end of street, turn 
sharp to left up steep hill, and continue on this road 
straight ahead, about 6 miles to Zenda sign board on 
right, keep to left and straight ahead to lake shore 
drive, follow this around lake to Lake Geneva City. 

DELAVAN, WIS., TO JANESVILLE, WIS. 

Go west on Walworth avenue, cross bridge and climb 
hill, keep to right at forks and keep this road straight 
ahead 20 miles to Janesville. Road good in stretches 
but some rough clay road. Hilly between Delavan and 
Emerald Grove. 

BELOIT, WIS., TO ROCKFORD, ILL .—19 MILES. 

Go east on Broad street to end, cross Turtle Creek 
bridge, keep to right and follow this road, cross rail¬ 
road and continue to interurban, turn left with inter- 
urban to Roscoe and straight ahead through Roscoe 
along interurban and follow interurban until opposite 
high bridge over Rock River on your right at Harlem 
Park, Rockford. There you may either cross bridge, 
follow Harlem avenue to N. Main street and south 
on N. Main to business center, or keep straight ahead 
coming into Rockford on Second street and following 
Second street to E. State street, turn right to business 
center. Road fair gravel. 

ROCKFORD, ILL., TO BELOIT, WIS .—19 MILES. 

Go north on N. Main street to Harlem avenue. 
Keep to right on Harlem avenue to high bridge over 
Rock River at Harlem Park, cross bridge and railroads, 
turn left, pass road on right, cross railroad and follow 


86 


interurban through Roscoe and for some distance be¬ 
yond until you come to a road on right just after cross¬ 
ing small bridge. Turn right and go straight ahead 
cross railroad and continue straight ahead to Turtle Creek 
bridge, cross bridge turn left and follow Broad street up 
town. Fair gravel road, not very good between Rockford 
and Roscoe. 

BELOIT, WIS., TO JANESVILLE, WIS.—14 
MILES. 

Go east on E. Grand avenue nearly to end, turn left 
on Prairie avenue and follow Prairie avenue and road 
at end straight ahead to Janesville. 

JANESVILLE, WIS., TO MADISON, via EVANS¬ 
VILLE—41 MILES. 

From garage on Main street, go north to car line, 
turn left and follow car line to railroad depots, across 
railroads and to Washington street and along Wash¬ 
ington street to cemetery. Continue straight ahead 
past cemetery to railroad, go under railroad, turn left 
climb hill to road at top, turn right, continue about 1 
mile to first road (telephone line), turn left and follow 
this road 14 miles to Evansville, passing through small 
hamlet of Leyden. Road is quite heavy sand most of 
the way. Entering Evansville cross railroad, continue 
through business street about 6 blocks to Main street 
turn right, follow Main street to end (water tower), 
follow road about mile to road on right, turn right, 
continue to railroad, cross railroad and straight ahead, 
taking turns to left to railroad again, cross railroad, 
follow a short distance, then left to first road, turn 
right, continue to railroad and along railroad without 


87 


crossing, to Brooklyn. Pass depot on right, turn left 
about mile to first road, turn right to first road on 
right, turn right again to first road on left, turn 
left, climb hill and straight ahead to railroad, 
cross railroad and follow to next crossing, cross and 
follow to next crossing, cross and straight ahead into 
Oregon. Continue straight ahead through Oregon and 
keep this road all the way to Madison, passing ceme¬ 
tery and settlement of Lake View. Road is quite hilly 
nearing Madison. About 3 miles from Madison the road 
turns left down big hill and winds west and north to 
city. Entering Madison follow car line to end, turn 
right, straight ahead across railroads to State House, 
turn right 1 block, left to end of State House grounds, 
then to right to garages,. 

MADISON, WIS., TO JANESVILLE via EVANS¬ 
VILLE. 

From middle of State House grounds in Madison, 
go south to Illinois Central depot, cross I. C. and C. 
M. & St. P. tracks, straight ahead to car line running 
east, turn left, continue on this street to end and fol¬ 
low road ahead which winds south and east until it 
turns south to Oregon at top of long hill. Continue 
on this road straight ahead to Oregon and straight 
ahead through Oregon to railroad, cross and follow 
railroad to next crossing, cross and follow to next cross¬ 
ing, cross and climb hill, at bottom of hill turn right to 
first road, turn left to first road, turn left to Brooklyn 
depot, turn right, follow railroad without crossing to 
first road on left, turn left to railroad, cross railroad 
and follow road south and east, keeping to right at 
forks, until you come to railroad crossing again, cross 


88 


railroad and straight ahead to end of road, turn left 
to Evansville; pass water tower follow Main street 
until even with business buildings on left, turn left, 
continue through business street, cross railroad and 
straight ahead on this road (sandy) about 14 miles 
until within about 1 mile of river ahead, turn right to 
first road, turn left, descend hill, go under railroad, 
continue to car line at cemetery, follow car line to 
business district, Janesville. 

CHICAGO TO LAKE GENEVA, WIS. 

Through the generosity of the Chicago Motor Club 
this route has been signboarded. I suggest the fol¬ 
lowing variation from McHenry. Go north from Mc¬ 
Henry the same as though going via Richmond, but 
keep to left at the Richmond signboard and go west 
to Ringwood, cross railroad and continue straight 
through Ringwood and west along small telephone line 
until road turns north near an old mill. Here you come 
to a heavy telephone line, follow this telephone line 
north and west about 8 miles to sign board on right 
“Hebron 2 miles,” turn right and go north to Hebron, 
cross C. & N. W. Ry., straight ahead through Hebron 
to milk station on C. M. & St. P. Ry., make little jog 
left, then north about a mile or so to end of road, turn 
left Yz mile to first road, turn right and go north to 
lake shore drive, and straight ahead around east end 
of lake to Lake Geneva City. 

LAKE GENEVA, WIS., TO CHICAGO. 

This route has been signboarded by the courtesy of 
the Chicago Motor Club. I suggest the following 
variation from Lake Geneva to McHenry. From Post 


69 


Office in Lake Geneva go south, follow lake to second 
street, turn left up hill to lake shore drive, turn right, 
follow lake shore drive to forks (Hebron sign board). 
Keep to left and go south about 3*4 miles, turn left 
and go east J4 mile, turn right, go south to C. M. & 
St. P. Ry. (milk station), cross railroad and continue 
south 2 miles to Hebron and straight through Hebron 
2 miles to sign board, turn left, follow heavy telephone 
line, keep to left with telephone line where the Green¬ 
wood road turns off to right, follow telephone line until 
it leaves this road near an old mill for private right of 
way; continue east on this road to RUngwood and 
straight ahead, through Ringwood, across railroad to 
Richmond signboard and follow this road a mile or 
so to McHenry. 

PEORIA TO GALESBURG—55 MILES. 

Leaving court house in Peoria on your right, go 
northwest on West Main street to top of hill, and 
follow car line west to Bradley Park on right. Just 
after passing western entrance and west limit of Brad¬ 
ley Park, turn right on gravel road and follow this 
road down hill and through the bottoms to forks in 
road (road house or saloon), keep to left (road to right 
leads to Elmwood), continue to foot of long steep hill 
having sharp turn right at bottom. This is a long, 
steep, winding hill and must be climbed cautiously as 
the bends in the road obstruct the view. From top 
of hill the road continues straight ahead west, gravel 
most of the way to Farmington, passing just north of 
Hanna City and Trivoli. Continue straight ahead in 
Farmington to bank in business district, turn right and 
go north *4 mile, turn left, go west about i l / 2 miles to 
well traveled road on right, turn right and go north 


90 


about 4 miles to railroad, passing red brick school 
about half way. Do not cross railroad, but turn left 
and follow telephone poles west (one short jog to left), 
about 4miles to end of road, turn right, cross Spoon 
River on queer semi-circular bridge and climb long hill 
to Maquon. Continue two blocks past hotel, turn left, 
but take right fork just out of town and follow tele¬ 
phone poles on angling road, n miles to Knoxville. 
Two steep hills, but short, about midway between 
Maquon and Knoxville. You come into Knoxville 
from the east. Continue straight ahead to small park, 
jog around park, continue west to forks and follow 
street car line 5 miles to Main street, Galesburg, turn 
left and go west to square. Dirt road from Farming- 
ton to Galesburg. 

GALESBURG TO PEORIA—55 MILES. 

From square in Galesburg go east on Main street to 
Knoxville road, where street car line branches, turn 
right and follow street car line 5 miles to Knoxville. 
Jog around small park and continue east about 1 mile, 
turn right and follow telephone line south a short dis¬ 
tance, then southeast, angling most of the time, to 
Maquon, n miles from Knoxville, following telephone 
line all the way. Leave hotel in Maquon on left, small 
park on right, go down long hill to bridge over Spoon 
River, cross bridge, keep to left about 3^ mile to first 
road, turn left and go east along telephone line (one 
small jog to left) about 5 miles to railroad crossing 
on your left. (House on N. W. corner and barn on 
N. E. corner.) Turn to right and go south about 4 
miles to well traveled road, passing red brick school 
about half way, turn left and go east miles to Farm- 


91 


ington. From bank in Farmington, go east and keep 
this road straight ahead 24 miles to Peoria. About 3 
miles before reaching Peoria you come to the top of 
a long steep hill. Descend this with great care as 
road is winding. Keep to left at foot of hill and follow 
this road through bottoms to W. Main street, at west 
side of Bradley Park, turn left and follow car line on 
W. Main street to court house. Road is dirt from 
Galesburg to Farmington. Mostly gravel from Farm¬ 
ington to Peoria. No bad hills to climb. 


Galesburg to Princeton. 



First section.—Galesburg to Princeton. 

Second section.—Princeton to Ottawa or Princeton 
to Earlville. 

Third section.—Ottawa to Aurora or Earlville to 
Aurora. 

Fourth section.—Aurora to Chicago. 


92 






GALESBURG TO PRINCETON—64 MILES. 

From square on Main street go east about three 
blocks to Seminary street, turn left, cross railroad, go 
north five or six blocks to Losey street, turn right and 
go east on Losey street, until you go under railroad, 
turn left and follow railroad 8 miles to Wataga. Con¬ 
tinue through Wataga past school, turn left across 
railroad to first road, turn right to railroad and follow 
railroad 4 miles to Oneida, straight through Oneida, 
cross railroad, follow south side of railroad to Altona 
4 miles from Oneida. Turn left, cross railroad at depot, 
go north about 2.y 2 miles to end of road, jog right a 
few rods to first road, turn left and go north to school 
house (about y 2 mile south of railroad crossing which 
you see ahead) turn right and go east about 5 miles 
to Galva. Go east from water tower, cross railroad, 
go east a short way, turn left to railroad, turn right 
and follow railroad, to end of the road, interurban 
on right, turn Jeft, cross railroad, go north along tele¬ 
phone line about 2 miles, turn right and go east to 
railroad and follow railroad to Kewanee. Follow in¬ 
terurban to garage on left, keep straight ahead on 
paved street (first brick, then asphalt), to end of pave¬ 
ment, turn left to railroad, turn right and follow rail¬ 
road 8 miles to Neponset, crossing railroad twice. Keep 
straight ahead through Neponset to end of business 
street (water trough and band stand), turn left to rail¬ 
road, turn right and continue east on this road about 
4 y 2 miles to end of road, turn left and go north to 
railroad embankment, follow railroad a little over a 
mile, cross railroad, make short jog to right then fol¬ 
low Pine street in Buda north to Main street, turn 
right and go east about 4 blocks to Depot street, hotel 


93 


on opposite corner, turn left and go north mile, 
jog right to first road, turn left and follow telephone 
poles north about i mile, keeping first to right and 
then to left where gravel road turns off to east. Con¬ 
tinue north to railroad, cross railroad and go north 
about T / 2 mile to well traveled road carrying heavy 
telephone lines, turn right and go east nearly 5 miles 
to Wyonet. Cross railroad at Wyonet depot, turn left, 
pass cemetery as you descend hill, climb pretty steep 
hill and go east from top of hill, gravel road, straight 
ahead to Princeton. Quite a steep hill to climb at 
Bureau Creek about 2 miles west of Princeton. You 
come into Princeton, at Court House square, jog left 
and right to Main street. From Princeton you have 
your choice of continuing to Aurora via Ottawa or 
Earlville. The Ottawa route is more hilly, and some 
longer but is more gravel. (For route Princeton to 
Aurora via Oittawa, see Princeton to Ottawa, Ottawa 
to Aurora.) Following is the road via La Moille, Men- 
dota, Earlville, Somonauk and Sandwich. 

PRINCETON TO EARLVILLE—39 MILES. 

From court house in Princeton go north on Main 
street, following car line nearly to C. B. & Q. depot 
(Bank on right, hotel on left), turn right and go east 
to angling road on left, turn left and follow this angling 
road to Dover, jog right and left around small park, go 
east ^2 mile to angling road on left, turn left and keep 
this angling road straight ahead to end (last two miles, 
dirt) turn left at end of road (sign board Princeton 
13^ miles, La Moille 2 l / 2 ), and continue 2 ]/ 2 miles to 
La Molle. Keep straight ahead, cross railroad, straight 
ahead about y 2 mile to first road, turn right and go 


94 


east io miles to Mendota, taking jogs at end of road 
to left. Continue straight ahead to business street 
in Mendota, turn left to first street north of depot, 
turn right, cross railroads and go east to end of street, 
turn left and go north about 34 mile to first country- 
road, turn right and go east to third road on your left, 
turn left and go north to railroad, turn right without 
crossing railroad and go east with short jogs to left 
to C. & N. W. Ry., south of Earlville, cross railroad, 
turn left, cross railroad again and go north to end of 
road, turn right, cross railroad again to school build¬ 
ing, turn left to business streets of Earlville. 

EARLVILLE TO AURORA via SOMONAUK AND 
YORKVILLE. 

The 1534 miles between Earlville and Somonauk is 
the only section of the Chicago-Galesburg road I have 
not been over. The description of that portion is furn¬ 
ished to me by Dr. Kaiser of Somonauk, substantially 
as follows: Go east on business street of Earlville to 
east side of town, go south to first road, then east about 
5 miles to “four-corners/’ turn left and go north to Le- 
land,. Go north from Leland 2 miles, turn right and go 
east 5 miles to Somonauk. If you wish to stop at gar¬ 
age, turn left at Catholic church and go north 3 blocks 
to hotel and 1 block east. If you do not wish to stop, 
continue east, past Catholic church and school, 3 miles 
to angling road on left, follow angling road to railroad 
and follow railroad into Sandwich. From main busi¬ 
ness street of Sandwich go east about 5 miles to end 
of road, turn right, pass old mill, go down long hill 1 
mile to small iron bridge near 3 span bridge across Fox 
river, cross small bridge, keep to left and follow road 

95 


—7 


on north side of Fox river about 5 miles to Yorkville. 
As you come out on street which leads down to bridge 
over Fox river in Yorkville, turn left and go to top 
of hill, turn right 1 block, turn left and go to north 
edge of town, turn right and go east and follow road 
which angles northeast most of the way, until opposite 
Oswego. Turn left with the road when opposite Os¬ 
wego and follow interurban north to railroad, cross 
railroad and go north to first road, turn right, cross 
railroad again, turn left and follow railroad about 1 
mile to Montgomery, turn right, cross car line, go 1 
block, turn left to covered bridge over Fox river, cross 
bridge and go east to first road, turn left and follow 
river north to forks, turn right to first road, turn left 
and go north past cemeteries to Lincoln avenue, Au¬ 
rora, follow Lincoln avenue to Fox street, turn left 
(dangerous railroad crossing at foot of hill), cross rail¬ 
road and straight ahead across river to hotel and 
garage. 

AURORA TO EARLVILLE via YORKVILLE 
AND SOMONAUK. 

Go east on Fox street to Lincoln avenue at top of 
hill 1 block beyond railroad, turn right, and follow 
Lincoln avenue south across railroad and past ceme¬ 
teries, turn right to river, turn left and follow river to 
road running west to covered bridge, turn right, cross 
covered bridge over Fox River, turn left a few blocks, 
turn right, cross car line (Montgomery), go 1 block, 
turn left and follow railroad south to crossing, cross 
railroad, go west to first road, turn left, cross railroad 
again and follow interurban until it turns to cross 
bridge to Oswego. Turn to right with the road and 


96 


straight ahead to Yorkville. As you start to descend 
hill to bridge over Fox river in Yorkville, turn to 
right into narrow road and follow this road on north 
side of Fox River about 5 miles to small iron bridge 
near 3 span iron bridge over Fox River, 'turn right, go 
north 1 mile past old mill, turn left and go west 5 miles 
to Sandwich. Jog left 1 block in Sandwich, then go 
west, follow railroad and angling road about 2 miles, 
keep to right at fork and go west 3 miles to Somonauk. 
Continue west to Catholic church and school. If you 
want a garage, turn north to hotel and east 1 block 
to garage. If not intending to stop, continue west past 
Catholic church and go west about 5 miles to second 
“four-corners,” turn left and go south to Leland. Go 
south from Leland Hiotel 2 miles to second “four- 
corners,” turn right and go west about 5 miles to Earl- 
ville, turn right at first street and go north to business 
street. 

EARLVILLE TO PRINCETON—39 MILES. 

From Smith’s garage go south to school building, 
turn right, go west across C. & N. W. railroad, turn 
left, go south across railroad again, turn right, cross 
railroad again and go west, taking jogs in road to 
left to cross road just south of Meriden station, turn 
left and go south 1 mile, turn right and go east to first 
street in Mendota, turn left and go south about *4 mile, 
turn right and go east across railroads to business 
street. Go south on business street on west side of 
I. C. railroad to freight house, turn right and go west 
ten miles to La Moille, taking the jogs in the road to 
the left. Cross railroad at La Moille, keep straight 
ahead past Allen school, pass road on left with tele¬ 
phone lines and continue straight ahead 2^4 miles to 


97 


sign board “Princeton 13miles,” turn right and fol¬ 
low angling road (first 2 miles dirt, balance gravel), 
about 7 miles to end of angling road, turn right J 4 
mile to Dover. Jog left and right around small park 
and follow left angling road to Princeton turning right 
to Main street and left on Main street to court house. 


Princeton to Ottawa and Earlville* 



PRINCETON TO GALESBURG—64 MILES. 

From court house in Princeton, go west as nearly as 
road permits 6 miles to Wyanet, going down quite a 
steep hill about 2 miles west of Princeton and climb¬ 
ing another as you enter Wyanet. Gravel road. Cross 
railroad at east side of depot in Wyanet, turn left and 
go west. Cross canal and about 3 miles further on 
where there is quite a cluster of farm buildings turn 
to left, leave heavy telephone line and follow smaller 


98 























line south across railroad, then south 2 miles to Buda, 
taking jogs in road to right and coming into Buda On 
Depot street. Follow Depot street to Main street 
(hotel on corner), turn right and go west about 4 
blocks to Pine street, turn left and go south to end 
of street, cross C. B. & Q. railroad, turn right and 
follow railroad as far as you can, then south about 1 
mile to road on right, turn right and continue west 
about 5 miles to Neponset, turn left to band stand and 
water trough, then to right to railroad and follow rail¬ 
road, back and forth, to Kewanee, turn left at viaduct 
and go south to paved street, turn right and follow 
paved street to interurban, follow interurban a short 
way, cross railroad, follow railroad about mile 
then go west along telephone line about 1*4 niiles, turn 
left and go south to railroad, cross railroad and run 
between railroad and interurban to Galva. Cross rail¬ 
roads in Galva and go due west about 5 miles to school 
house on your right, turn left and go south to end of 
road, jog right to first road, turn left and go south to 
Altona, cross railroad east of depot and follow railroad 
to and through Oneida to end of road near Wataga, 
turn right to first road, turn left, cross railroad, turn 
right and continue through Wataga along railroad to 
viaduct on Losey street, Galesburg, turn right, follow 
Losey street to Seminary avenue, turn left to Main 
street and right to square. 

PRINCETON TO PERU, LA SALLE AND 
OTTAWA. 

From court house in Princeton, go north about 2 
blocks to Peru street, turn right and follow Peru street 
and gravel road east, with one jog of mile to south, 


99 


to Hollowayville, continue through Hollowayville to 
Seatonville, about io miles from Princeton (hilly). At 
Seatonville go down long hill on principal street, go 
under railroad and up another hill. When part way up 
this hill, at a cluster of buildings (mostly saloons), 
turn left on a cinder street, instead of continuing south. 
This route avoids Spring Valley and its dangerous hills 
and railroad crossings and gives you practically a level, 
gravel road to Peru as follows: After making the turn 
just described, go east on this cinder street, cross 
bridge make “S” turn with the road, then continue due 
east. You pass i mile south of Ladd, cross interurban 
and a railroad at grade and i railroad over a new via¬ 
duct which has a pretty steep approach from the west. 
Continue due east on this road from Seatonville prac¬ 
tically 6j4 miles to end of road, turn right on angling 
gravel road, follow same 2 miles to brick pavement on 
Peoria street, Peru, follow this street south to inter¬ 
urban on Fourth street, turn left and follow interurban 
east to La Salle coming into La Salle on Third street. 
Follow car line on Third street until it turns off to 
right and continue on Third street to Joliet street, red 
brick city hall on your right. Distance Princeton to 
La Salle, 22 miles. 

LA SALLE TO OTTAWA. 

The “north” road is the best and safest road between 
La Salle and Ottawa and is as follows: From City Hall 
corner of Joliet and Second streets, go north to Fifth 
street, turn right and go east, past small park on left 
and continue east across bridge over I. C. R. R. and 
down pretty steep hill. Road winds to left and north 
to school house on your right practically 2^4 miles from 


100 


park in La Salle. Turn right, at school and follow 
telephone line on gravel road, past school on right 
2 miles further on. Continue east past this school 
about % mile to end of road; turn left and go north 
about l /2 mile to first road, go east about 5 miles, turn 
right with main traveled road and go south y 2 mile 
to school on your right, turn left and go east 1 mile, 
road makes a little jog to left, then continues due east 
to Ottawa. Go down pretty steep hill before reaching 
railroad, cross railroad, follow rough cinder street 
across two more railroads, past King & Hamilton’s 
large implement house to Arthur Barrett’s grocery on 
left, turn right and follow this street, La Salle street, 
to court house. This route measures practically 15^2 
miles. The road is gravel all the way from La Salle 
to the railroad, 1 mile west of Ottawa and cinder road 
into Ottawa. Hilly on leaving La Salle, but practically 
level the remainder of the way to the hill you descend 
into Ottawa. 

OTTAWA TO LASALLE, AND PRINCETON. 

From west side of court house go north on La Salle 
street, cross canal, turn left, Arthur Barrett’s grocery 
on your right as you turn, pass King & Hamilton’s Im¬ 
plement house and keep on west on rough cinder street 
to railroad about 1 mile west of Ottawa. Cross rail¬ 
road and climb pretty long hill, continue west to end of 
road. School house at end of road. Road makes short 
jog to left about 1 mile before reaching school. Turn 
right at end of road and go north *4 mile to first road, 
go west about 5 miles to end of road, jog south to first 
road, then west, passing school on left, to another 
school on left 2 miles further on. Turn left at this 


101 


last school and follow main traveled road, telephone 
lines, to La Salle, coming into La Salle on Fifth street. 
Continue on Fifth street beyond park on right to Joliet 
street, turn left to City Hall, corner of Joliet and Second 
streets. Distance practically 15miles. 

LA SALLE TO PERU AND PRINCETON. 

From City Hall corner of Joliet and Second streets 
in La Salle, go north 1 block to Third street, turn left 
and go west on Third street to car line, follow car line 
across bridge and ‘on west to Peru. Road makes a 
little jog to right on entering Peru. Continue past 
water tower on left, follow car line 3 blocks to corner 
of Fourth and Peoria streets, turn right and go north 
on Peoria street to end of pavement and continue on 
hard road past stone bridge on your right. Follow 
angling road northwest two miles, turn left and go 
west 6 y 2 miles to Seatonville. This route cuts out 
Spring Valley and its dangerous hills. Gravel road, 
fair condition. Road makes “S”. turn at east edge of 
Seatonville. Follow cinder road across bridge to end 
of road, turn right, go down hill and under railroad 
trestle and continue west on gravel road through Sea¬ 
tonville and Hollowayville (one jog north, west of Hol- 
lowayville) to Princeton, coming in on Peru street, 
turn left at Main street to court house. Distance 22 
miles La Salle to Princeton. 

DEKALB TO SYCAMORE. (6 MILES.) 

From post office in DeKalb go north on Fourth street 
and continuee about 4 blocks to forks in street with 
flower bed in middle, keep to right to interurban and 
follow interurban to DeKalb avenue, Sycamore. Keep 


102 


straight ahead where interurban turns off of De Kalb 
avenue, cross railroad to California avenue, turn left 
to State street. Gravel and dirt road. 

SYCAMORE TO DEKALB. (6 MILES.) 

From court house in Sycamore go west on State street 
3 blocks to California avenue, turn left i block, turn right, 
cross railroad, continue west on DeKalb avenue to interur¬ 
ban, follow interurban as far as you can then straight 
ahead past high school to end of road, turn left to post of¬ 
fice, DeKalb. Road gravel and dirt. 

BLOOMINGTON TO EL PASO, WENONA AND 
LA SALLE. 

(65 to 72 miles according to route taken to El Paso.) 

Until now there has been no bridge over the Macki¬ 
naw river between Hudson and Kappa, so that ip fol¬ 
lowing the I. C. railroad from Bloomington to El Paso 
it was necessary to ford the river which could be done 
only in dry seasons. There is now a bridge just west 
of the I. C. railroad bridge. The road leading to it for 
2 miles from the south, and ^2 mile on the north is a 
new road that has just been opened and is pretty hilly 
and will be rough for a while until it gets well traveled. 
The nearest other crossing is the ford east of the I. C. 
railroad, the next nearest the Coon bridge 2 miles east 
of the ford, and the next one is the bridge 2)4 miles 
further east which lies north of Towanda and is the one 
used in the Bloomington to Streator road. Tire Coon 
bridge has a bad, low approach from the south and an 
ugly, stony hill to climb at Money creek going north 
and an equally bad one coming south after crossing the 
bridge. Following are the four routes to El Paso. 


103 


.,9*1 Ob E 


Bloomington to El Paso, 



I COUWT HoU«6 
O OmT rsi CrTo (\|. 


11,6 t r * 


104 




































































































BLOOMINGTON TO EL PASO via THE NEW 
BRIDGE. (i 8 j / 2 MILES.) 

From court house go north on Main street, cross 
C. & A. railroad, continue north on Main street through 
Normal and continue north 6 miles taking jogs in road 
to left to school house on left at cross road. Continue 
straight ahead passing Hudson on right, follow angling 
road to end, turn right and go north to first road, turn 
right, go east .3 mile to first road, turn left and go 
north 3 miles to new bridge and straight ahead to 
Kappa. Continue through business street, turn right, 
cross railroad, go east to first road, turn left, go north 
to end of road and east to first road, then north 3^2 
miles to El Paso, crossing T. P. & W. railroad and turn¬ 
ing left to I. C. depot. 

BLOOMINGTON TO EL PASO via THE FORD. 
(19 MILES.) 

Y.ou may take same route above described to the 
point where you turn north 3 miles south of new bridge. 
At this point (or 1 mile further north as you choose) 
go east across I. C. railroad to first road and turn left. 
This road brings you to the ford. Cross ford, continue 
up long hill to railroad, cross railroad, turn right and 
go north into Kappa proceeding to El Paso, as above 
described. Or you may take Linden street in Normal 
which is the first street east of the I. C. railroad and go 
north to Hbdson taking first jog in road to right and 
second to left. Continue straight ahead through east 
side of Hudson and keep this road to ford. You can 
reach the new bridge from this road by turning left, 
either 2 or 3 miles north of Hudson and taking first road 
west of railroad north to bridge. 


105 


BLOOMINGTON TO EL PASO via COON 
BRIDGE. (23 MILES.) 

From north side of court house go east on Jefferson 
street to within 1 block of end, turn left on Towanda 
avenue, angling to left, follow Towanda avenue and 
road beyond to railroad, cross railroad, following ang¬ 
ling road to end, turn left with road to end (school 
on left) turn right to first road, left to first road, right 
to first road, then left and go north to C. & A. railroad, 
cross railroad and continue north nearly 6 miles to end 
of road, turn right and go east mile to first road, 
turn left and go north on this road passing Pleasant 
Grove school to Money creek. Cross bridge and climb 
ugly hill and straight ahead 1 mile to Mackinaw river 
(bad approach to bridge through rough bottoms), cross 
bridge, turn left, follow angling road, pass school on 
right, go west mile to next road, turn right, go north 
3 miles to end of road, turn left p2 mile to first road, 
turn right and go north 1 mile, (Enright station), turn 
left and go west 2 miles to El Paso, entering El Paso, 
pass grove of trees, turn right, cross T. P. & W. Ry., 
turn left to I. C. depot. 

BLOOMINGTON TO EL PASO via GRIDLEY 
BRIDGE. (27 MILES.) 

For this route see Bloomington to Ottawa which you 
follow to end of road 4 miles north of Mackinaw river. 
At this point turn left and go west 1 mile, turn right 
and go north 1 mile (small house ahead), turn left and 
go west 5 miles to El Paso, passing Fairview school 
and Enright station respectively Y* and miles after 
turning west. 


106 


EL PASO TO MINONK, WENONA AND 
LA SALLE. 


It is 45 miles from El Paso to La Salle, all dirt road 
except last io miles from Tonica. Practically no hills 
but steep descent to Illinois river bridge into La Salle. 
Go west from I. C. depot in El Paso 2 blocks, turn right, 
go north past small park, jog left 1 block, turn right to 
end of street, turn left and go west about 20 rods to 
end of road, turn right and go north 1 mile to end of 
road, make little jog to right then continue north 9 
miles to Minonk. Continue straight ahead in Minonk 
to Santa Fe railroad, (I. C. railroad on right) cross 
Santa Fe, turn left, go west 1 mile to north and south road, 
turn right and go north 5 miles to Rutland and straight 
ahead north through west side of Rutland 3 miles to 
end of road, turn right, cross I. C. railroad, turn left, go 
north ip2 miles to Wenona and straight ahead through 
east side of Wenona to coal mine dump, make little jog 
to right of about 2 rods, turn left and go north 5 miles, 
turn left, cross I. C. railroad, turn right, go north to 
Lostant and straight ahead through Lostant to end of 
road, turn left, go west to first road, turn right and go 
north to Tonica, continue north through Tonica on west 
side I. C. railroad and follow gravel road 10 miles to 
La Salle. This road goes north about J 4 mile, then 
west 1 mile, north 2 miles, west mile, then north 
until it begins to curve to right for descent to Illinois 
river. Have car under complete control. After de¬ 
scending hill cross bridge and follow dyke road to 
small bridge, cross bridge, jog a little to right, then turn 
left on Joliet street, go north 2 blocks to city hall. 


107 


LA SALLE TO BLOOMINGTON. (65 to 72 
MILES.) 

Starting from city hall, corner of Joliet and Second 
streets in La Salle, go south to end of Joliet street, turn 
to right J4 block to small bridge, cross bridge and 
follow dyke road to bridge over Illinois river, cross 
bridge and climb steep hill bearing to right to top, 
(steepest at bottom) continue along gravel road from 
top of hill until road turns south and follow gravel 
road south, taking jogs in road to left, to Tonica 10 
miles from La Salle. Continue through Tonica on 
west side I. C. railroad, jog right at end of street, (J. H. 
Dale’s carriage factory) turn left at first street, and fol¬ 
low this road south about 4J4 miles to cross road just 
north of Lostant, turn left to railroad, turn right with¬ 
out crossing, go south through business street of Los¬ 
tant on west side of I. C. railroad, crossing another 
railroad, and continuing south to first road, turn left, 
cross I. C. railroad, go east to first road, turn right and 
go south 5 miles to coal mine dump at Wenona, make 
little jog to right, then continue straight ahead south 
through east side of Wenona to end of road about 
1 y 2 miles south of Wenona, turn right, cross railroad, 
turn left at first road and go south to Rutland and 
straight ahead through west side of Rutland and south 
5 miles until even with Minonk on left, turn left and 
go east to I. C. railroad, turn right without crossing, 
cross Santa Fe railroad and continue south through 
business street of Minonk and south along west side 
of I. C. railroad 9 miles, make little jog to right, then 
turn left and go south to end of road, turn left a few 
rods, then to right, left and right to water tower in El 
Paso, 45 miles from La Salle. Turn left to I. C. depot. 


108 


EL PASO TO BLOOMINGTON via NEW BRIDGE. 
(18% MILES.) 

Go east from I. C. depot past elevator and green¬ 
house, turn right, cross T. P. & W. Ry., turn left to 
last street in town, turn right and go south y / 2 miles 
to end of road, turn right to first road, turn left to first 
road, then to right to railroad, cross railroad and turn 
left into Kappa, straight through Kappa to new road 
(will be bad for a time), cross new bridge and continue 
over new road to second cross road (end of road), jog 
right to first road, turn left and go south taking jog 
at end of road to left, pass Hudson on left to school 
house at cross road, straight ahead south 7 miles to 
Normal, taking jogs in road to left, straight through 
Normal on Main street and straight ahead to court 
house in Bloomington. 

EL PASO TO BLOOMINGTON via FORD. 

In dry weather you can ford the Mackinaw south 
of Kappa which may be the better way for a time until 
new road to bridge gets settled. Proceed as above de¬ 
scribed to Kappa. Go south from Kappa on west side 
I. C. railroad, turn left at new road, cross I. C. railroad 
turn right, go down long hill to ford, ford river and 
follow winding road to right till it turns south, then 
straight ahead to Hudson, straight through Hudson to 
end of road, turn left to first road, turn right and go 
south 6 miles to Normal, taking jog in road to right. 
New pavements connecting Normal and Bloomington 
are being put in. Inquire at McKnights or Coen’s, corner 
North street and Broadway, for best road. 


109 


EL PASO TO BLOOMINGTON, via COON 
BRIDGE AND GRIDLEY BRIDGE. 

The diagram heading these descriptions should be 
sufficient direction for these routes. The Coon bridge 
has a low approach through bottoms from south and 
a short steep hill to climb after crossing bridge, and a 
steep, stony descent to Money creek bridge. Other¬ 
wise the road is all right. The Fifer or Gridley bridge 
is the one used in the Ottawa-Bloomington route de¬ 
scribed herein. 

BLOOMINGTON TO CHAMPAIGN. (55 MILES.) 

From east side of court house in Bloomington go 
south one block on Main street, east* one block on 
Front street, south one block on East street, east two 
blocks on Grov£ street to car line on Gridley street, 
south on Gridley street, turn left with car line on Clay 
street and go east to Illinois Central railroad, cross 
railroad and continue two blocks east to Hanna street, 
turn right and go south to tile factory, to left around 
tile factory then straight ahead southeast about 1*4 
miles to L. E. & W. Ry., cross railroad and continue 
a short way south to forks, turn left and follow tele¬ 
phone poles, keeping to left at forks, to Downs. Climb 
long hill on entering Downs, and continue to school 
building and church on right, turn left and go east 
on this road about 2 miles to end of road, jog right 
to first road, turn left and follow angling road 5 miles 
to Le Roy. Enter Le Roy past canning factory on 
right, continue straight ahead 4 or 5 blocks, turn right 
and go south to business street. From small park in 
Le Roy go east through town to end of street, turn 
right, (boulevard style street) go south to first road, 


110 


turn left, pass cemetery, cross creek and climb hill, 
pass road on left and road on right and follow angling 
road (usually poor) to Empire elevator, keep to left 
without crossing railroad, go east to first road, turn 
right and go south to railroad, follow railroad south¬ 
east 4 miles to crossing near depot, cross Big Four 
railroad, angle right, cross Illinois Central railroad be¬ 
tween depots, continue a block or two, turn left one 
block, turn right and follow main road to business 
center of Farmer City. From square go south about 3 
blocks to forks (Review office on right) take left fork 
and follow telephone poles on main traveled road 
southeast, then east to Harris. Cross railroad at Har¬ 
ris, turn right, follow railroad about a mile then keep 
to left and follow telephone poles east, pass school 
house on right, follow telephone poles east, then south 
to Big Four railroad, cross railroad, turn left and fol¬ 
low railroad to Wabash railroad, cross Wabash rail¬ 
road and straight ahead to business street of Mansfield. 
Turn to right at this street and go due south (jog to 
left at end of street) about 1 mile to cemetery, turn 
left and go east (one little jog to right) until road turns 
north, go north a few roads, turn right, cross railroad 
and continue^ straight ahead to Mahomet. Keep 
straight ahead through Mahomet, turn right, cross 
bridge, and follow heavy telephone lines, keep to left 
where one line turns off to right and continue east and 
southeast passing school on left to Five Points, jog 
right, then continue east toward the three smokestacks 
you see ahead in Champaign. At north edge of town 
turn right one block, left one block, turn right and fol¬ 
low N. Randolph street to business center. All dirt 
and clay road. 


Ill 


CHAMPAIGN TO BLOOMINGTON. 


Take North Randolph street, go north to end of 
street, jog left one block, right one block then turn left 
and go west about 3 miles to Five Points, make little 
jog to right then continue along telephone line west to 
Mahomet. On entering Mahomet cross bridge, turn left 
onto main business street, go west through town and 
straight ahead to railroad, cross railroad, jog left a few 
rods, turn to right with the road and go west (one little 
jog to right) to cemetery on right, turn right and go 
north to Mansfield. Continue through Mansfield nearly 
to end of street, turn left one block, right one block 
then left to Wabash railroad at depot, cross Wabash 
railroad and follow Big Four railroad northwest to 
first road, turn right and follow telephone poles north 
then west to railroad, follow railroad to Harris. Cross 
railroad at Harris, turn right and follow telephone poles 
on main traveled road to Farmer City. From square in 
Farmer City go west 2 blocks, turn right, follow main 
road to depot. Cross Illinois Central railroad between 
depots, angle to right to Big Four railroad, cross Big 
Four, turn left (be sure not to turn left after crossing 
Illinois Central). Follow Big Four railroad northwest 
as far as you can, turn right to first road, turn left to 
Empire elevator, keep to right and follow angling road 
to Le Roy. From small park in Le Roy go north, cross 
railroad, go north several blocks to main road west, 
turn left and go west passing canning factory on left 
and follow angling road about 4J/2 miles to end, jog 
right to first road, turn left and continue west about 
2 miles to church and school in Downs, turn right, go 
down long hill and follow telephone line to Blooming¬ 
ton to tile factory, go north on Hanna street to first 


112 


paved street (Clay street), turn left and follow car 
line across railroad to Gridley street, turn right with 
car line, go north to asphalt pavement (Grove street) 
turn left 2 blocks, right 1 block, left 1 block to Main 
street, then right 1 block to court house. All dirt and 
clay road. 

BLOOMINGTON TO GIBSON CITY. (32 MILES.) 

Two roads from Bloomington parallel each other 
to the Ford county line 4 miles west of Gibson City. 
The north road is the Empire road; the south road the 
“Bentown” road. To reach the Empire road go east 
on Washington street from south side of court house 
in Bloomington, cross I. C. railroad and proceed east 
on Washington street to ward school on right, turn 
left on angling street, (Towanda avenue) follow To- 
wanda avenue and angling road beyond y 2 mile, turn 
left on Empire road. Follow this road east 26 miles to 
end, turn right y 2 mile, turn left, go east on gravel road 
4 miles, turn right and go south 1 mile into Gibson City. 
To reach the “Bentown” road go east on Washing¬ 
ton street as far as you can, turn right and go south 
y 2 mile, turn left and follow this road 26 miles to end, 
turn left and go north y 2 mile, turn right and go east 
4 miles and south 1 mile to Gibson City. These two 
roads are connected with frequent crossroads. If one 
is poor you can try the other. Ellsworth and Arrow- 
smith lie i}/2 miles south of the “Bentown” road. 
Roads run north from Empire road to Barnes, Merna, 
Cooksville, Colfax and Anchor varying in distance 
from 1 mile to Barnes to 6 miles to Colfax and Anchor. 


113 


Grand Detour and Dixon to LaSalle and Starved Rock, 



114 



















GIBSON CITY TO BLOOMINGTON. 


Cross I. C. railroad at east side of depot, go north 
i mile, turn left, go west 4 miles, either go north 
mile to Empire road or south mile to “Bentown” 
road. Follow either road west 26 miles, turning left 
on angling road off of the Empire road to Blooming¬ 
ton, or to right off the Bentown road. Dirt roads from 
Ford county line 4 miles west of Gibson City. 

LASALLE TO DIXON AND GRAND 
DETOUR. 

Leaving city hall on left go north on Joliet street, 
LaSalle, follow car line to end, passing Lincoln school and 
fair grounds, continue north, cross railroad, continue to 
end of road, turn left to first road, turn right and go north 
4 miles to end of road, turn right to first road, go north 
again 1 y 2 miles to end of road, turn left to first road, turn 
right and go north 7 miles to Mendota. Continue past fair 
grounds, turn left and go west to I. C. railroad, cross rail¬ 
road below depot, turn right. Go north from Mendota on 
west side of I. C. railroad, leaving depot on right and fol¬ 
low railroad 5 miles to Henkel, cross railroad, turn left and 
follow railroad 4 miles to Sublette (dirt road). Entering 
Sublette proceed to end of road, (depot on left), turn left, 
cross railroad but immediately turn right and re-cross 
railroad, turn left and follow railroad about mile to end 
of road, turn right and go north on dirt road 4 miles to 
Shaws. (Caution for bridge without guard rails about 
half way.) Entering Shaws cross railroad and cross-road 
and continue north on macadam road 1.8 miles to end, turn 
left, turn right with the road at school, cross bridge and 
follow this macadam road west to Lee Center, passing 2 
roads on right and 1 on left. Continue straight ahead 


115 


through Lee Center and keep this road straight ahead 12 
miles to Dixon. First 8 miles is mostly dirt road, last 
4 miles g-ravel. Entering Dixon go under railroad, con¬ 
tinue to end of road, turn left on East Seventh street, gO' 
west 3 blocks to Galena Ave., turn right, go north 5 blocks 
to court house. Continue down hill to First street, turn 
right blocks to garage. To continue to Grand Detour 
pass garage, go east to first corner, turn left 1 block to 
river road, turn right, follow river, pass 2 roads on right, 
cross switch track, follow river, passing stone crusher and 
mill on right continue to macadam road, follow this road, 
pass road on left leading up hill, pass Bend school on left, 
keep to right at fork, pass 2 roads on right and continue to 
bridge over Rock river, cross bridge and continue *4 mile 
to Grand Detour practically 7 miles from Dixon. No hills 
of any consequence between LaSalle and Grand Detour ex¬ 
cept a pretty stiff grade on Galena Ave. in Dixon. 

GRAND DETOUR AND DIXON TO 
LASALLE. 

(47 Miles Dixon to LaSalle.) 

Go south from Grand Detour to bridge over Rock 
river, cross bridge, continue along winding gravel road, 
passing 2 roads on left and 1 on right, pass Bend school 
house on right, pass road on right and continue along 
gravel road to river, follow river, passing stone crusher 
and mill on left and follow river to Dixon. Entering 
Dixon continue until within 2 blocks of bridge over Rock 
river, turn left up hill 1 block to First street, turn right, 
pass garage on left, go i l / 2 blocks to Galena Ave., turn left 
up hill to court house. It is nearly 7 miles from Grand 
Detour to Dixon. To continue to LaSalle, go south from 
court house in Dixon 5 blocks to East Seventh street, turn 


116 


left 3 blocks to end, turn right, follow angling road up 
hill, keep to right at forks, continue to railroad, go under 
railroad, then straight ahead on this road. At end of 
gravel road, 4 miles from Dixon (red brick school and 
church) continue straight ahead on dirt road 8 miles to 
Lee Center. This road is nearly all dirt until within a mile 
of Lee Center. Continue straight ahead through Lee Cen¬ 
ter and follow macadam road, pass road on right, road on 
left, another road on left and continue to small bridge over 
drainage ditch, cross bridge, continue to school on left, 
turn left, go east a few rods to road on right, turn right 
and go south on macadam road 1.8 miles to Shaws, con¬ 
tinue straight ahead to railroad, cross railroad, continue 
south on dirt road 4 miles to I. C. railroad, turn left with¬ 
out crossing, follow railroad 3/2 mile to Sublette, cross rail¬ 
road but immediately turn left, cross railroad again, turn 
right at first road (depot on right), follow I. C. railroad 
4 miles to elevator at Henkel, cross railroad, turn left and 
follow railroad 5 miles to Mendota. Continue through 
Mendota on west side I. C. railroad past depot on left, turn 
left, go east about % mile to fair ground, turn right and 
go south on road east of I. C. railroad about 7 miles to 
end of road, turn left to first road, go south again 
miles to end of road, turn right to first road, then south 
4 miles to crossroad a short distance from bridge over 
railroad ahead, (Daily Post sign), turn left, go east 
mile to first road, turn right and follow this road south, 
cross railroad, continue to car line, follow car line south on 
Joliet street past fair grounds and Lincoln school on right 
to city hall, corner Joliet and Second streets, LaSalle. 


117 


LASALLE TO UTICA AND STARVED 
ROCK. 


From city hall in LaSalle go north on Joliet street 2 
blocks to Fifth street, turn right, go east on Fifth, pass 
park, cross I. C. railroad on overhead bridge, follow gravel 
road down hill east and north to school on right prac¬ 
tically miles from LaSalle, turn right, go east 2 miles 
to school on right, turn right, go south mile to first 
road, turn left, go east on this road, descend hill, turn to 
right at forks, cross railroad, go 1 block, turn left, (brick 
school on right) go east 1 block, turn right and go south 
through business street of Utica 1 mile to bridge over Illi¬ 
nois river, cross bridge, continue mile, turn left on new 
road into Starved Rock park. Eight miles, this route, La¬ 
Salle to Utica, 9miles LaSalle to entrance Starved 
Rock park. All gravel road. 

STARVED ROCK TO UTICA AND 
LA SALLE. 

From entrance to Starved Rock park go north mile 
to bridge over Illinois river, cross bridge and continue 1 
mile to Utica. Entering Utica cross interurban, cross 
small bridge over creek, continue to within 1 block of rail¬ 
road (Stevenson’s grocery on right, drinking fountain on 
opposite corner), turn left 1 block, (school on left), turn 
right, cross railroad, continue .3 mile to fork, turn left, 
climb hill, continue west 2j4 miles to end of road, turn 
right to first road (school on left), turn left, go west 2 
miles, (school on left) turn left and follow this road south 
and west up hill over railroad into LaSalle. Continue past 
park to Joliet street, turn left 2 blocks to city hall. 


118 


STARVED ROCK TO OTTAWA. 

From entrance to Starved Rock park go north mile 
to bridge over Illinois river, cross bridge, turn to right into 
river road and follow this road, 9 miles to Ottawa, fol¬ 
lowing interurban and passing County Farm and entering 
Ottawa on Ottawa avenue. 

STARVED ROCK TO STREATOR. 

The simplest way is to go from Starved Rock to Ot¬ 
tawa and follow Ottawa-Bloomington route to Streator. 
The following route is some shorter but has about 3 miles 
of dirt road and one long hill. From entrance to Starved 
Rock park go south up long hill and straight ahead south 
on gravel road. (First road on right after reaching top of 
hill goes to Deer Park.) Continue south as near as the 
road permits until you come to cross road 4.3 miles from 
entrance to Starved Rock park. (Cluster of mail boxes and 
farm house on right.) Turn left and follow this road east 
and northeast 1.3 miles to forks, (hamlet of Vermillion- 
ville,) keep to right and follow gravel road 2^2 miles to 
school, turn right, go south a short distance, then left on 
angling dirt road through settlement of Farm Ridge, con¬ 
tinuing through Farm Ridge, passing road on left and 
road on right and small brick church on left. At next road 
turn left on gravel road and go north J4 mile to first road, 
turn right, follow gravel road about 3 miles to end, turn 
left and go north y 2 mile to first road, turn right and fol¬ 
low this road east 1 mile to cross road, (red brick school 
on northeast corner—Grand Ridge ahead) turn right and 
follow this road south 8 miles to Streator, continuing 
straight ahead to Plumb House. 


119 


STREATOR TO DEER PARK AND 
STARVED ROCK. 

(Via GRAND RIDGE.) 

From Plumb House go north on North Bloomington 
street and continue north 8 miles to red brick school at the 
northwest corner of Grand Ridge. Turn left, go west I 
mile, turn left, go south y 2 mile to first road, turn right 
and go west on gravel road about 31 miles to end of gravel, 
then south on gravel road % mile to angling dirt road, 
turn right, follow angling dirt road northwest through set¬ 
tlement of Farm Ridge, passing road on left and road on 
right to end of angle, then north a short distance to school, 
turn left, follow this road 2*4 miles to forks (settlement 
of Vermillionville) keep to left on gravel road which runs 
southwest a short distance, then turns west. Follow this 
road west i mile to end (cluster of mail boxes and farm 
house) turn right and follow gravel road north as near as 
road permits, road on left 3.4 miles after turning north 
leads to Deer Park. For Starved Rock continue straight 
ahead down long steep hill. Watch sharp for right turn 
into Starved Rock park just at foot of hill near stone 
crusher on left. Utica bridge over Illinois river y> mile 
ahead. 

STARVED ROCK TO TONICA. 

(10 MILES.) 

There are two long hills to climb and one steep descent 
on this route. Leave entrance to Starved Rock park, go 
south up long hill, continue south on gravel road 5 miles to 
steep descent at Vermillion river, cross river and climb long 
winding hill to Lowell, pass Lowell, turn right and follow 
southeast angling road 3 miles to Ticona station, cross 
railroad and continue 1 mile to Tonica. (For continuation 
to points south see LaSalle to Bloomington.) 


120 


TONICA TO STARVED ROCK. 

(10 MILES.) 

Leaving depot on left go north on east side of I. C. 
railroad in Tonica i block, turn right and go east and 
northeast i mile to Ticona station, cross railroad, continue 
northeast about 3 miles to cross-road, turn left to Lowell, 
pass Lowell, descend long hill to Vermillion river, cross 
river and climb steep hill and continue north on gravel 
road as near as the road permits. Road on left about 4 
miles after crossing river leads to Deer Park. For Starved 
Rock continue north 1 mile down long, winding hill, turn 
to right at bottom of hill, into Starved Rock park, about 
opposite stone crusher or mill on left. 

SPRINGFIELD TO LITCHFIELD. 

(46.2 MILES.) 

This is an all dirt road except about 3 miles pavement 
and hard road out of Springfield and a mile entering Litch¬ 
field. One quite steep hill to climb at Cotton Hill 8.3 miles 
out of Springfield. Road practically level otherwise, ex¬ 
cept about 2 miles of small clay hills beginning about 10 
miles north of Litchfield. Leave court house in Spring- 
field on right and go south on Sixth street to end of pave¬ 
ment, continue south across railroads to end of road 3 
miles from court house, turn left to first .road, turn right 
and go south 1.9 miles to end of road, turn left to first 
road, turn right and go south 2 miles to end of road then 
east on winding road .3 mile to Cotton Hill, go under 
railroad, pass road on right, continue east, go across cov¬ 
ered bridge, climb steep hill, turn to right at next road 
(school on left), go south i /4 miles to end of road, turn 
right and go west .3 mile to first road, turn left and go 
south 3 miles to end of road, turn right and go west 1 


121 


mile to church at Glenarm, turn left and go south on this 
road i mile, make little jog left then south again, cross 
Pawnee branch railroad, cross covered bridge and continue 
south disregarding cross roads leading west to towns of 
Divernon, Thomasville, Farmersville and Waggoner on 
I. C. railroad which parallels your road 3^ mile to west. 
Continue south on this road except for slight jogs which 
are plain. Pass school on right and church on left 12.3 
miles south of Glenarm. About 10 miles further on you 
come to some clay hills which are not bad except for the 
clay road bed which drys very rough after rain and is 
heavy when wet. At end of road after crossing this hilly 
stretch turn left to school, turn right, pass road on left 
and go south to end of road, turn right, go west to first 
road then south 4^ miles to end of road, angle east and 
south a short way to railroad, cross railroad, go south to 
end of road, jog right then south again to end of road, 
jog right to first road, turn left and follow angling road 
southwest and south 1.1 miles (auto garage sign), turn 
right and go west .3 mile, turn left and go south 1 mile to 
court house Litchfield, coming in on N. State street. 

LITCHFIELD TO SPRINGFIELD. 

(46.2 MILES.) 

This is an all dirt road except pavement ieaving Litch¬ 
field and about ]/% mile stone road out of town and about 
3 miles of pavement and hard road entering Springfield. 
Road is practically level except about 2 miles of clay hills 
beginning about 8 miles from Litchfield. One steep hill to 
descend at Cotton Hill 8 miles from Springfield. Road is 
ordinary dirt, good where well traveled and poor where 
not. Leave court house in Litchfield on right and go north 
on State street to end of pavement and to end of road be- 


122 


yond, turn right and go east .3 mile, turn left on stone 
road (very brief), follow this road north and northeast to 
end, turn right to first road, north to end of road, jog 
right, then north to railroad, cross railroad, angle left to 
first road, go north over clay hills 4.6 miles to end of road, 
jog right, then go north again passing road on right and 
school on left, turn left to first road, turn right and go 
north, pass road on left and continue north. Road runs due 
north except for small, plain jogs. Disregard cross-roads 
leading into towns of Waggoner, Farmersville, Thomas- 
ville and Divernon lying mile west on I. C. railroad. 
Pass school on left and church on right and 5^2 miles fur¬ 
ther on cross covered bridge over creek (road is a little 
winding through woods), cross Pawnee branch railroad, 
go north to end of road, make little jog left then go north 
1 mile to church on left at Glenarm, turn right, go east 1 
mile to first road on left, turn left, go north 3 miles to end 
of road, turn right .3 to first road, turn left and go north 
1^2 miles, pass road and school on right, descend steep 
hill, cross covered bridge, continue to railroad, go under 
railroad (Cotton Hill) follow this road (winding north¬ 
west south-west and west) about .3 mile, turn right and go 
north 2 miles to end of road, turn left to first road, go 
north again 2 miles to end of road turn left to first road, 
then north again on stone road, cross railroads, continue 
straight ahead on paved street (Sixth street) to court 
house, Springfield. 

LITCHFIELD TO EDWARDSVILLE. 
(37.4 MILES.) 

This road has considerable clay which dries very rough 
after a rain and is heavy and sticky when wet. Distance 
is divided as follows: Litchfield to Mt. Olive 11 miles, 


123 


Mt. Olive to Staunton 7 miles, Staunton to Worden 7.8 
miles, Worden to Edwardsville 11.6. The worst stretch 
of road is the first 8 miles of clay out of Litchfield. Prob¬ 
ably the “least worst” route is as follows: Leave court 
house in Litchfield on left and go south on State street, 
cross Big 4 railroad east of depot, go south .3 mile to 
Tyler avenue nearly to end of State street pavement, turn 
right on Tyler avenue, go west across railroads and inter- 
urban to end of street, turn left then right and go west 
to first road on left (big sign on right), turn left and go 
south over short stretch corduroy road (very rough), con¬ 
tinue south to end of road, turn right, go west Yi mile, 
south .3 mile, west .2 mile, south and west .1 mile, south .1 
mile then west, passing road on left, and continue west 1.4 
miles to bridge, church and school, continue west .7 mile 
to first north and south road, turn left and go south 4 miles 
to end of road passing 2 school houses, turn right at end 
of road and go west .3 mile to first road, turn left and go 
south p2 mile, make little jog to right then south to end 
of road, turn left .1 mile, turn right, cross interurban, jog 
right and left to principal business street of Mt. Olive, 
turn right and go west mile to park on right, turn left 
go south past high school to end of street, turn right and 
go west .2 mile, turn left and go south .3 mile to railroad, . 
cross railroad, continue to end of road, go west .3 mile, 
turn left and go south 1.7 miles crossing interurban and 3 
railroads, turn right and go west ^2 mile crossing 1 rail¬ 
road (saloon on left, miners’ houses, etc.), turn left and 
go south .7 mile, crossing railroad again, turn right, go 
over hill and follow angling road southwest to Staunton 
coming upon paved street (Main street), at Alton street 
(St. Michael’s school and church on right). Follow Main 
street west to city hall and park. Go west from city hall 
and park .2 mile, south to public school, jog right and left 


124 


around school ground, go south and west to end of street 
(Klondyke saloon ahead), turn left and go south .2 mile, 
west .3 mile, south .2 mile to fork, keep to left and go 
south across interurban and railroads 3 miles to end of 
road (church on right), turn right and go west across rail¬ 
roads and interurban 1.1 miles to first road, turn left and 
follow this road south and southwest to end, jog left then 
right, passing depot on left, turn right onto business street 
of Worden, go west to City Hotel on right. From City 
Hotel go west .2 mile, jog left then right and follow tele¬ 
phone line to railroad, go under railroad, continue .4 mile 
to forks, keep to left leaving telephone line and go south 
2.3 miles to interurban, crossing 2 railroads and passing 
road on left and cross-road. At interurban turn right and 
follow interurban as far as you can then continue on this 
road .3 mile, slow up g'reatly for steep descent, descend 
hill, continue across bad bottom road, climb steep hill, turn 
left at top and go straight ahead to Hillsboro avenue pave¬ 
ment, follow interurban on Hillsboro avenue all the way to 
court house, Edwardsville. 

EDWARDSVILLE TO LITCHFIELD. 
(37.4 MILES.) 

This road has considerable clay which is rough after 
rain and heavy and sticky when wet. One steep descent 
and one steep climb just out of Edwardsville. Remainder 
of road practically level except for clay hills between Mt. 
Olive and Litchfield which are not steep. Proceed as fol¬ 
lows : From east side of court house in Edwardsville fol¬ 
low interurban on Hillsboro avenue to end of pavement 
where interurban turns off, continue straight ahead along 
telephone line to top of hill, turn right, descend steep hill, 
cross bad bottom road and bridge, pass road on left, climb 


125 


very steep winding hill and follow this road to interurban, 
follow interurban 5 miles to end of road, turn left, keep to 
left at fork (road to right is the Hillsboro road), go north 
2.3 miles to end of road crossing 2 railroads, at end of 
road follow telephone line .4 mile to railroad, go under 
railroad and follow telephone line to business street of 
Worden. Continue east on business street of Worden al¬ 
most to railroad, turn left, pass depot on right, jog left 
then turn right and go north and northwest about 2 miles 
to road on right, turn right, go east 1.1 miles crossing 
railroads, turn left (church on left), go north 3 miles cross¬ 
ing railroads again, continue north, jogging east and north 
to Klondyke saloon on left, then east and north to public 
school and go north from public school to business street 
of Staunton (Main street), then east to park and city hall. 
From city hall go east to end of pavement (St. Michael’s 
school and church on left), follow angling road northeast 
across railroads and over hill to end of road, turn left, go 
north across railroad to saloon on right, turn right, go 
east % mile, turn left, go north 1.7 miles, crossing rail¬ 
roads again, turn right, go east and north to railroad, 
cross railroad, go north .3 mile, east .2 mile, north past 
school on left to park, turn right onto principal business 
street of Mt. Olive go east y 2 mile to Union Hotel on 
right, turn left (church on right as you turn), go north 1 
block (Zion school on right), turn right, then left and go 
north across interurban, jog left, then turn right and go 
north (little jog to right) 1 mile, go east .3 mile to first 
road, turn left and go north on clay road 4 miles passing 
2 schools, turn right and go east, pass school and church 
and cross bridge, continue east 1.3 miles, go north .1 mile, 
east and north .1 mile, east .2 mile, north *4 mile (short 
stretch of very rough corduroy road), turn right and go 
east and north .2 mile to Tyler avenue, turn right and fol- 


126 


low Tyler avenue east across interurban and railroads to 
pavement on State street, turn left and go north on State 
street to court house. 

EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. TO ST. LOUIS, MO. 

It is 23.9 miles from the court house in Edwardsville 
to the railroad viaduct at East St. Louis, leading to the 
Eads bridge. Some hilly between Edwardsville and Col¬ 
linsville, 1 big hill to descend leaving Collinsville. About 
i 1 /* miles sand after descending hill. About 1 mile pave¬ 
ment and iy 2 miles macadam road between Edwardsville 
and Collinsville, balance clay and dirt. About y 2 mile 
macadam, 2^4 miles pavement and some 4 miles of stone 
road (quite rough) between Collinsville and East St. Louis. 
Leaving court house in Edwardsville on right go south 
along interurban on # Main street 1 block, turn left with car 
line on Vandalia Ave., continue 2 blocks, turn right on 
South Buchanan street (public library on right), follow in¬ 
terurban on South Buchanan street to end of pavement and 
straight ahead across railroads and 1.7 miles beyond to end 
of road, (Goshen station) turn left across interurban, go 
east .2 mile to first road, turn right, go south across rail¬ 
road to end of road, turn left, descend hill, cross railroad 
again, turn right at first road and go south, cross bridge 
over railroad, continue straight ahead .8 mile to road on 
right, turn right, go west .1 mile, then south, pass road on 
right, cross railroad, pass brick school on right, continue 

mile to road on right, (railroad on left) turn right, go 
west, pass road on left, (old well on right), continue west 
y 2 mile to sign “To Maryville,” jog south, then go west 
again .9 miles to interurban, turn left, follow interurban, 
cross, turn left and follow .3 mile to Maryville, cross in¬ 
terurban, turn right and follow it south, (caution for rail- 

127 


—9 


road), cross railroad, continue along- interurban to end of 
road, (Troy Road station), cross interurban and follow it 
south (i mile macadam road) to pavement on Vandalia 
street and along Vandalia street past Catholic Church and 
school on right to where interurban branches, continue 
along Vandalia street i block to Main street, turn right, fol¬ 
low interurban west to the end of Main street pavement, 
(St. Louis road), turn left with interurban and follow it to 
another branch, cross the line branching to left and follow 
the other to top of hill, (new macadam roadway), slow 
down for long descent, descend hill, pass power station on 
right, cross interurban and follow it along sandy bottom 
road, (watch out for bad holes filled with brick bats), pass 
Indian mounds and follow interurban as far as you can, 
then straight ahead across railroads, pass “Lame Goose” 
saloon on right, cross more railroads, go under interurban 
and continue on paved street, (Ninth street) to end at 
St. Clair Ave., jog right, then continue west on Ninth 
street past Horace Mann school on left to Illinois Ave., 
(car line) turn right I block, turn left and follow Eighth 
street west 2 blocks to Missouri Ave., turn right (East 
St. Louis postoffice on left), follow Missouri Ave. to Col¬ 
linsville Ave., (car line), turn left and follow Collinsville 
Ave. 1 block to Broadway, turn right, cross viaduct over 
railroads, follow car line to Eads bridge, cross bridge (toll) 
to foot of Washington Ave. to St. Louis. 

ST. LOUIS, MO. TO EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. 

It is 23.9 miles from the railroad viaduct in E. St. Louis 
to the court house in Edwardsville going via shortest route 
to Collinsville. It is 11 miles to Collinsville, the road be¬ 
ing made up of about 2^4 miles pavement, *4 mile ma¬ 
cadam about 4 miles stone road, (pretty rough) a mile or 


128 


so of sand, balance dirt and clay. Road is level until near 
Collinsville where there is a big hill to climb, but it has a 
new macadam roadbed. Road from Collinsville to Ed- 
wardsville is some hilly (not bad) and is all dirt and clay 
except about i mile pavement and i l / 2 miles macadam. 
From foot of Washington Ave., St. Louis, cross Eads 
bridge, (toll), follow car line from east end of bridge to 
railroad viaduct, East St. Louis, cross viaduct, follow 
Broadway about 150 feet to Collinsville Ave., (double car 
line,) turn left, follow Collinsville Ave. 1 block to Missouri 
Ave., (Union T. & S. Bank on right), turn right, follow 
Missouri Ave. past postoffice on right, turn left on Eighth 
street, go east 2 blocks to Illinois Ave., (car line), turn 
right 1 block to Ninth street, turn left, go east on Ninth 
street, pass Horace Mann school on right, continue to 
St. Clair Ave., make little jog to right, then follow Ninth 
street east, go under interurban, cross railroals, pass “Lame 
Goose” saloon on left, cross more railroads, follow 4-arm 
telephone line to interurban, follow interurban, passing Al¬ 
len’s park on left, County Line station on right. About 
6 y 2 miles out of East St. Louis you pass some interesting 
Indian mounds. Follow interurban along sandy bottoom 
road (watch out for several bad holes filled with brick¬ 
bats), cross interurban, climb long hill, follow interurban 
from top all the way to comer of St. Louis road and Main 
street, Collinsville, then east on Main street .7 mile to Van¬ 
dal ia street, turn left, go north 1 block to Edwardsville in¬ 
terurban line, continue north on Vandalia street to end, 
passing Catholic Church and school on left, follow inter¬ 
urban from end of Vandalia street, (1 mile macadam road) 
cross interurban at Troy Road Station, turn left, follow in¬ 
terurban .8 mile, slow for railroad crossing, continue along 
interurban .3 mile to Maryville, cross interurban and fol¬ 
low it north, cross again and follow’ to first road, (car shed 


129 


ahead), turn right, go east .9 mile to end of road, jog left, 
(sign, “To Maryville” on left), turn east, pass road on 
right climb small hill, continue east .3 mile to railroad, turn 
left without crossing, go north, pass brick school on left, 
cross railroad, continue north to end of road, jog right .1 
mile to first road, (small telephone line), turn left, go 
north, cross bridge over railroad, continue to end of road, 
turn left, cross railroad, climb small hill, turn right, cross 
railroad again, continue north to end of road, turn left to 
interurban, cross, turn right, follow interurban (mile 
macadam road) continue along interurban, crossing rail¬ 
roads and following pavement on South Buchanan street, 
(Edwardsville) tO' public library on left, turn left with in¬ 
terurban on Vandalia street, go 2 blocks, turn to right on 
Main street, follow Main street 1 block to court house and 
Leland hotel, Edwardsville, passing Keller’s Automobile 
supply store on right. 

SPRINGFIELD TO JACKSONVILLE 
33.5 Miles 

This is an “inland” road, all clay and dirt and quite 
hilly for 10 miles at each end of route. Fair road in dry 
weather, bad in wet. Road passes through two' small vil¬ 
lages (Riddle Hill and Old Berlin) leaving towns of Cur¬ 
ran, Bates and Berlin, on Wabash railroad, to the south 
from 3 to 5 miles. Leave court house in Springfield on 
left go south on Fifth street 2 blocks to Capital Ave., turn 
right, go west to State House (Supreme Court building on 
left), turn left blocks to Edwards street, turn right 
and go west on Edwards street 1 mile to end of pavement, 
then south on paved street 3 blocks to Washington Park, 
enter park, turn right, keep to left at first fork, to right at 
second, pass rustic boat house on left, follow lagoon, pass 


130 


cross-drive and climb hill bearing to right to exit, leave 
park, turn left a few feet, then left again and go south .1 
mile to fork, turn right, follow this road i mile to C., P. & 
St. L. railroad, cross railroad, continue west 3 f / 2 miles to 
village of Riddle Hill, keep to left, descend big hill and 
climb another, keep to right at school house, follow this 
road 2.6 miles to end, (sign Jacksonville Auto. Co. garage 
22 3/10 miles), continue west and southwest 4.4 miles to 
village of Old Berlin, keep straight ahead through village, 
passing small church on right, to end of street, jog right, 
then continue west 1.7 miles to top of hill, descend hill, 
pass road on left, cross small bridge, climb fair sized hill, 
pass Woodwreath cemetery on left, pass through grove 
with several houses, continue west 1.6 miles to end of road 
(house ahead) turn left and go south .1 mile to first road, 
turn right and go west, pass school on right, pass cross¬ 
road carrying 2 telephone lines, continue west, jogging 
south with road, pass church on right, continue west with 
jogs to south 3.2 miles to another church on right, bear 
left on angling road, .7 mile to end, then west 3 miles, turn 
left under Wabash railroad, turn right and go west to car 
line on E. State street, follow car line west, pass Institute 
on right, cross railroad between depots, pass Illinois 
Women’s College on left, Jacksonville Automobile Co. 
garage on left, continue to square, follow car line around 
square to west side, then west to court house, Jacksonville. 
Hotel to left ahead. 


131 


JACKSONVILLE TO SPRINGFIELD 
33.5 Miles 

This is an all clay and dirt road, quite hilly for 10 miles 
at each end of the route but no very bad hills. Fair road 
in dry weather but a bad one if wet. Settlements of Old 
Berlin and Riddle Hill are the only ones between Jackson¬ 
ville and Springfield. Towns of Berlin, Bates and Curran 
lie to the south on the Wabash railroad at distances varying 
from 3 to 5 miles. Telephone lines vary in size and for 
several miles there are none at all. Road runs east and 
northeast all the time, with slight jogs north. Leaving 
court house in Jacksonville on your left go east to square, 
follow car line around to east side of square, then east on 
E. State street, pass Jacksonville Automobile Co. garage on 
right, pass Illinois Women’s College on right, Institute on 
left, cross railroads between depots, follow car line east on 
E. State street to end of pavement, continue east to end of 
road, jog north under Wabash railroad, then east along 
telephone line, pass road on left, cross small bridge and 
continue east 2 miles to end of road angle left .7 mile to 
church, (hilly), then east with slight jogs north, pass 
church on left, continue east, jogging north with road, pass 
cross-road carrying 2 telephone lines, pass school on left, 
continue east 2*4 miles, jog north to first road (house on 
left), turn east again, pass grove with several houses, pass 
Woodwreath cemetery on right, descend hill, cross bridge, 
climb hill and continue east 1.7 miles to Old Berlin, jog- 
right as you enter village, then continue east and straight 
ahead 4.4 miles, (sign on comer, “Jacksonville Auto Co. 
garage 223/10 miles”), angle left with road 2.6 miles to 
school on right, descend big hill and climb another, straight 
ahead through village of Riddle Hill and straight ahead 
east 3L2 miles to C., P. & St. L. railroad, cross railroad, 


132 


continue straight ahead east and northeast i mile to end of 
road, then north .1 mile to first road, turn right and enter 
Washington park, keep to right, descend hill on winding 
drive bearing left, pass cross-drive, follow lagoon, pass 
rustic boat house on right, keep straight ahead, bearing to 
left to north exit of park, (cement house with cement wall 
on left), leave park, go north on paved street 3 blocks to 
end, turn right and follow Edwards street east 1 mile to 
end, turn left on Second street, go north 1 block to east 
side of State House, turn right, (Capital Ave.) pass Su¬ 
preme Court Building on right, go under C. & A. railroad, 
continue 1 block (garage to right), continue east 1 block 
more, turn left to court house, Springfield. 


133 


INDEX. 


Algonquin to Elgin . 82 

Aurora to Chicago (via Hinsdale). 26 

Aurora to Chicago (via Wheaton) . 23 

Aurora to Earlville . 96 

Aurora to Elgin . 7^ 

Aurora to Ottawa (via Newark) . 40 

Aurora to Ottawa (via Somonauk) . 37 

Beloit, Wis., to Delavan, Wis... 85 

Beloit, Wis., to Geneva Lake, Wis. 85 

Beloit, Wis., to Janesville, Wis... 87 

Beloit, Wis., to Rockford, Ill. 86 

Bloomington, Ill., to Chicago (via Aurora) .30, 39, 23 

Bloomington, Ill., to Chicago (via Aurora) .30, 41, 26 

Bloomington, Ill., to Chicago (via Joliet).32, 37, 19, 8 

Bloomington, Ill., to Chicago (via Joliet) .32, 37, 20, 12 

Bloomington, Ill., to Decatur . 65 

Bloomington, Ill., to Delavan . 68 

Bloomington, Ill., to Dixon and Grand Detour.... 103-6, 107, 115 

Bloomington, Ill., to Pontiac and Dwight. 32 

Bloomington, 111., to El Paso and Wenona.103-6 

Bloomington, Ill., to Farmer City and Champaign. no 

Bloomington, Ill., to Galesburg .43, 90 

Bloomington, Ill., to Geneva Lake, Wis.30, 71, 72 

Bloomington, Ill., to Gibson City . 113 

Bloomington, Ill., to Tonica and LaSalle.103-6, 107 

Bloomington, Ill., to Pekin . 51 

Bloomington, 111 ., to Peoria (route 1). 43 

Bloomington, Ill., to Peoria (route 2) . 43 

Bloomington, Ill., to Peoria (route 3) . 46 

Bloomington, Ill., to Springfield (via Lincoln) . 59 

Bloomington, Ill., to St. Louis, Mo.59, 121, 123, 127 

Bloomington, Ill., to Streator and Ottawa . 30 

Champaign to Bloomington . 112 

Champaign to Galesburg .112, 43, 90 

Chicago to Aurora (via Hinsdale) . 24 

Chicago to Aurora (via Wheaton) . 23 

Chicago to Bloomington (via Aurora) .21, 37, 27 

Chicago to Bloomington (via Aurora) .24, 40, 27 

Chicago to Bloomington (via Joliet).6, 13, 15, 34 

Chicago to Bloomington (via Joliet).10, 13 or 15, 34 


134 










































Chicago to Galesburg .21, 96, 97, 98 

Chicago to Galesburg .24, 39, 101, 98 

Chicago to Joliet (Archer Ave. route). 10 

Chicago to Joliet (West side route). 6 

Chicago to Lake Geneva, Wis. 89 

Chicago to Plainfield . 6 

Chicago to St. Louis.6, 13, 15, 34, 59, 121, 123, 127 

Chicago to St. Louis.21, 37, 28, 59, 121, 123, 127 

Decatur to Bloomington . 65 

Decatur to Springfield . 67 

DeKalb to Sycamore . 102 

Dixon to Bloomington .116, 108, 109-10 

Dixon to LaSalle . 116 

Delavan to Bloomington . 69 

Delavan to Pekin . 54 

Delavan to Peoria . 55 

Delavan, Wis., to Beloit, Wis. 85 

Delavan, Wis., to Janesville, Wis. 85 

Dwight, Ill., to Pontiac and Bloomington. 34 

Dwight, Ill., to Pontiac and Peoria . 59 

Dwight, Ill., to Morris and Joliet . 37 

Earlville to Somonauk and Aurora . 95 

Earlville to Mendota and Princeton . 97 

Edwardsville to Litchfield . 125 

Edwardsville, to St. Louis, Mo. 127 

Elgin to Algonquin and Harvard . 8o 

Elgin to Aurora .79 or 80 

El Paso to Bloomington .109-10 

El Paso to Wenona and LaSalle. 107 

El Paso to Eureka and Peoria. 57 

Farmer City to Bloomington. 112 

Galesburg to Chicago .93, 94, 95, 23 

Galesburg to Chicago .93, 99, 39, 23 

Galesburg to Bloomington .91, 48 

Galesburg to Champaign .91, 48, no 

Galesburg to Peoria . 91 

Galesburg to Princeton . 93 

Genoa to Rockford . 73 

Geneva Lake, Wis., to Bloomington, Ill.76, 78, 27 

Geneva Lake, Wis., to Delavan, Wis. 83 

Geneva Lake, Wis., to Sycamore, Ill. 76 

Geneva Lake, Wis., to Chicago . 89 

Gibson City, Ill., to Bloomington. 115 

Grand Detour to Bloomington .116, 108, 109-10 


135 














































Grand Detour to LaSalle . 

Grand Detour to Starved Rock .116, 118 

Harvard to Algonquin and Elgin . 82 

Harvard to Geneva Lake, Wis. 83 

Harvard to Sycamore, Ill. 7 ^ 

Hinsdale to Joliet . 27 

Jacksonville to Springfield . i 3 2 

Janesville, Wis., to Madison, Wis. 87 

Joliet, Ill., to Chicago (Archer Ave. route). 12 

Joliet, Ill., to Chicago (West side route). 8 

Joliet, Ill., to Hinsdale and Downer’s Grove. 17 

Joliet, Ill., to Morris, (route 1) . 13 

Joliet, Ill., to Morris (route 2) . 14 

Joliet, Ill., to Morris (via Channahon) . 15 

Joliet, Ill., to Plainfield . 18 

Lake Geneva, Wis., (see Geneva Lake, Wis.). 

LaSalle to Dixon and Grand Detour. 115 

LaSalle to El Paso and Peoria.107, 57 

LaSalle to Ottawa . 100 

LaSalle to Princeton . 102 

LaSalle to Utica and Starved Rock. 118 

LaSalle to Wenona and Bloomington.108, 109-10 

Litchfield to Edwardsville . 123 

Litchfield to Springfield . 122 

Madison, Wis., to Janesville, Wis. 83 

Morris to Dwight . 15 

Morris to Joliet (route 1) . 19 

Morris to Joliet (via Channahon) .. 20 

Morris to Ottawa . 17 

Morris to Yorkville . .17 

Ottawa to Aurora (via Newark) . 41 

Ottawa to Aurora (via Somonauk) . 39 

Ottawa to Bloomington . 27 

Ottawa to LaSalle and Princeton . 101 

Ottawa to Morris . 41 

Ottawa to Peoria (via El Paso) . 57 

Ottawa to Somonauk . 39 

Ottawa to Starved Rock . 43 

Ottawa to Streator . 27 

Ottawa to Sycamore . 71 

Pekin to Bloomington . 52 

Pekin to Delavan . 33 

Pekin to Peoria (via Bartonville) . 51 

Peoria to Bloomington (route 1) . 48 


136 
















































Peoria to Bloomington (route 2) . 49 

Peoria to Bloomington (route 3) . 49 

Peoria to Delavan . 55 

Peoria to El Paso and LaSalle.56, 107 

Peoria to Galesburg . 90 

Peoria to Ottawa (via El Paso). 56 

Peoria to Pekin (via Bartonville) . 51 

Peoria to Pontiac and Dwight . 56 

Peoria to Streator . 56 

Plainfield to Chicago . 18 

Plainfield to Joliet . 18 

Plainfield to Morris . 17 

Princeton to Earlville (via Mendota) . 94 

Princeton to Galesburg . 98 

Princeton to LaSalle and Ottawa. 99 

Rockford to Beloit, Wis. 86 

Rockford to Bloomington, Ill.75, 78, 27 

Rockford to Genoa and Sycamore. 75 

Somonauk to Ottawa . 37 

Springfield to Bloomington (via Lincoln) . 63 

Springfield to Decatur . 66 

Springfield to Jacksonville . 130 

Springfield to Litchfield . 121 

Springfield to St. Louis, Mo.121, 123, 127 

Starved Rock to Grand Detour and Dixon.118, 115 

Starved Rock to LaSalle . 118 

Starved Rock to Ottawa . 119 

Starved Rock to Streator . 120 

Starved Rock to Tonica . 120 

Streator to Bloomington . 27 

Streator to Deer Park and Starved Rock. 120 

St. Louis, Mo., to Bloomington, Ill. 128, 125, 122, 63 

St. Louis, Mo., to Chicago.128, 125, 122, 63, 32, 37, 19, 19 

St. Louis, Mo., to Chicago.128, 125, 122, 63, 30, 39, 23 

St. Louis, Mo., to Edwardsville . 128 

St. Louis, Mo., to Springfield .128, 125, 122 

Sycamore, Ill., to DeKalb . 103 

Sycamore, Ill., to Geneva Lake, Wis. 72 

Sycamore, Ill., to Ottawa, Ill. 78 

Sycamore, Ill., to Harvard . 72 

Sycamore, Ill., to Rockford .72, 73 

Tonica to Starved Rock. 121 

Wenona to Bloomington .108, 109-10 


137 















































































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